As a democrat I rather vote for McCain than for Mr. Xerox.

If Obama gets the Nomination…I will vote for McCain…Never voted for a republican before for President….This will be the first!!!

Go Hillary!!!

Only one person is qualified at day one to be Commander in Chief: John McCain.

McCain or Obama in 2008… two solid characters that can do a lot for this country. Politically, Hillary should just go and ride into the sunset.

That is hard to believe especially with the disparity between Democrat and Republican primary voter turnout.

McCain will win over Obama, I will vote for him and I'm a
Democrate. Experience will win.

Unfortunately, this is indicative of the damage that the continued bickering between Clinton and Obama has done to the chances of getting a Democrat in the White House. McCain's approval has gone up since the Republicans began uniting, while Obama's has gone down since the increasing divisiveness of the campaign. It's time to stop this nonsense if the Democrats really care about having a Democratic president.

Clinton has my vote… and if she's not there, this democrat will be voting for McCain! Experience v. Empty Hope

McCain = Four more years of Bush. If so, America will be a shining light of stupidity to the world.

I will definately vote for McCain should Obama win the nomination. I have never voted for a republican in 30 years but I guess there's a first time for everything. I urge all Clinton supporters to support McCain if Obama is the nominee. Obama is a con man and will lead the nation to disaster.

why isn't the media talking about how big of a lead John Mccain has over Obama on national security and not as big of a lead agaisnt Hillary. You the media have given Obama a free ride–if the Democrats end up with a nominee that hasn't been vetted properly-I WILL blame you !!!!!!!!!!!! I use to listen to CNN but you are so biased agaisnt Hillary that I have to watch FOX NEWS(YUCK) to get fair reporting. All that I ask–please be even with your coverage.

I find this hard to swallow. Hasn't anyone been paying attention to the actual number of votes cast in the primaries? Dems are voting in huge numbers, way outnumbering republicans.

these polls are so dumb. one week you talk about how obama is going to run away with the thing in november and now you say mccain is going to be "hard to beat?" which is it? or is it just which ever story makes more internet traffic?

that poll is a little premature don't you think?
Lets see how McCain measures up when the actual candidate for the dems begins to campaign against him before releasing this kind of poll.

Believe or not, if obama win Dem nominee, he will no any chance to win president. Current poll just give you wrong information (from republic party ). Obama is an american idol. If he can be president, everyone can. Voting with your brain, not gambling

We are a large family in Louisiana and have decided that we are now Republicans and will change our registration as such this week. We will vote for McCain, no matter what they say about him. I know we are just a small group, but is anyone else thinking this way? By the way, the pollsters have never called us to ask what we think. Who do they call?

McCain is Faux Hillary. Why elected the wannabe when we can have the real thing? The Dems could nominate Mickey Mouse and he'd beat McCentury.

Polls, schmolls. McCain is un-electable. This article dismissed as wishful thinking.

No way. 100yrs no way. Who did they ask or call? No one that I know.
Keep putting that crap out so that we will get even more people out to stop this man.
NBC Anyboby But Clinton
Obama08

You really can not go by these polls right now. After the Democratic nominee is selected, the two final candidates will end up receiving new votes from those that currently support another candidate. I believe there will be a lot of cross over votes that are not being taken into account.

The said Hillary was a 20-point leader when Obama entered the race…

Nah, these early polls are nice and all but essentially useless.

And yet, we seem fascinated by Obama. We cannot win on the war issue with McCain. It has to be "it's the Economy Stupid" Part II, and Clinton is far superior on that. Clinton is our only hope to win in November.

…and this was gathered from polling about 1000 people

The more u support, the worse the situation will be.

So far in this race, Obama has come from behind in EVERY state that he has won other than Illinois. For the general election he starts off with a 6 point lead. The more people get to know Obama, the more they seem to like him and gravitate towards him. I think he is going to be diving into McCains base of supporters as this thing goes on. But the fact that Obama is ahead in the polls already shows that people are leaning his way in the general election.

You really can not go by these polls right now. After the Democratic nominee is selected, the two final candidates will end up receiving new votes from those that currently support another candidate. I believe there will be a lot of cross over votes that are not being taken into account.

It's the economy STUPID!! That's why it's important to vote for Clinton if the democrats want to win in November. She leads McCain by 10 points when it comes to the economy. People will be voting based on their finance situation. Wake up America! Vote Clinton.

if americans permit mccain to become effectively a third term for bush, then this country will get exactly what it deserves.

I worry where the older Democratic voters will go after Hillary. We are a house divided, with my 78-year old mom supporting Hillary and me at 52 years old supporting Barack. I respect her choice which is grounded in the experience she perceives in Hillary. My vote is based on vision and the need to alter the direction of this country dramatically. My mom did like McCain some years ago even though we are Democrats. I wonder now with these findings if she will cross over for McCain because she thinks our country must get back on track. I think that our family's experience may be somewhere in this poll: changing direction versus getting back on track.

All the various polls indicate the same. Only Barak will be able to beat McCain. This should encourage the voters in Ohio and Texas to vote for Barak, as with Clinton they risk losing the election in November and that would mean another X-years of Rebuplican rule.

You really can not go by these polls right now. After the Democratic and the Republican nominees are selected, the two final candidates(in the General Election) will end up receiving new votes from those that currently support another candidate. I believe there will be a lot of cross over votes that are not being taken into account.

This is nonsense, every poll that comes out says that Obama doesn't have a chance…then people start voting and prove these polls wrong.

I hate that these polls are given so much credit when they seem to be wrong so much.

The country is not voting Republican this next round, we all have had enough of these last 8 years and this horrible economy, war, and the disaster that is the Bush administration.

The people will prove the polls wrong in November, and MCAIN will not be president, Senator Barack Obama will.

While McCain might be ahead now, his numbers will fall fast once the democractic party has their man or woman chosen and everyone is able to come together and fight for our candidate. We have waited for eight years to right the wrongs of 2000 when we were robbed of our President - Al Gore. We will come together and fight for our candidate. We have to for the sake of our future and our children!

Of course, McCain appeals to alot of Democrats and Indepedents. This fall is going to be close…..no questioning that.

only made worse due to nader.

Every primary state, he's gotten anywhere from half to a fifth of the votes of either Obama or Clinton.

This poll is meaningless. The general election is nine months away. Don't worry, he'll be beaten. Handily.

Why not do poll here in CNN? So we can see the number more clear.

How can a man that supports the war and wants it to go on for 100 more years win???? Where is the money coming from the sky? No wonder why this country is in such decrepit condition. I think a majority of this country needs to wake up out of the trance they are in.

There are many people from both sides of the Hillary & Barack cults who need to take a step back from their all-or-nothing stance that makes them say they will abstain or vote McCain in November if thier deity doesn't receive the nomination.
If they haven't been listening to McCain's latest positions then maybe they should keep an ear out. He is basically adopting the failed Bush policies that have created this urgency that many of you posses and that drives you to back your respective candidates in the first place. If this bickering doesn't end soon then we can look forward to another 4 to 8 years of the DeEvolution of American standards in all facets of our every day lives.

YES!!!! Excellent! GO MCCAIN! The other two options just aren't gonna cut it. One is a windbag, the other too liberal.

Senator McCain has the ability to bring together democrats, republican, independents, liberals, conservaties, etc., to move this country in the right direction.

How unfortunate that those very groups will try to destroy him before election day so that they can "bring in one of their own".

McCain is the only one with near the qualifications to be President. The other two shouldn't even have made it this far.

I don't understand the headline. The poll shows Obama beating McCain, even if it is within the margin of error. How is this spun in McCain's favor?

The real story here is that no one has reached 50% of the vote.

This is great, another 4 or 8 years of an "older" Bush. I don't know what is wrong with the American people. Guess we are just gluttons for punishment. I will cast my vote for Obama and if McCain wins, I can at least not have to blame myself for our country going under. It's called "peace of mind". Americans better wake up, and fast.

Time for a Third Party candidate so we can become a true democracy, not some kind of corporate zombi nation like we are becoming!!

Ah yes - Obama leads McCain in multiple national polls by an average of 7 percentage points - but McCain will be tough to beat?

I'd laugh if the story weren;t so preposterous.

I'll take McCain or Obama over Hillary, and so it sounds like my preference will come true.

My only issue with McCain is that he's 72. If you're voting for McCain for president, you're really voting for whoever his Vice-Presidential candidate will be, because the odds are good ol' John won't be around in 8 years.

I'd rather vote for the candidate I know can withstand the physical rigors of having the hardest job in America.

The main issue in this election is the economy.

…the poll finds voters favor Clinton by 10 points over McCain to handle the economy.

McCain has a 9 point advantage on economic issues over Obama.

Reality Bites!

Anonymous is a republican.

I have been telling people for awhile now that McCain is going to be very hard to topple; especially when Obama has no international relations experience or Hillary's polarizing opinions…McCain, the maverick senator from Arizona may or may not have a tough race due to his overall party image, but he is clealy a popular figure in American politics.

McCain will most certainly NOT be hard to beat. No one in their right mind would vote another Republican in office at this point in time. It's Obama I'm worried about. He's not what you think, people! Wake up before it's too late!

Di like to lie, she's a Republican.

all of the people that keep saying that they would rather vote for the republican than for the dem. nominee (whoever it may be): are you sane?????

why would rather vote for another term of george w????

McCain IS 4 more years of Bush.

Thanks a lot, turncoat Democrats.

After eight years we now here that McCain is favored over the Democratic candidate. I was perplexed how people could have voted for George W not once but twice. And now, do people really think we need another Republican president? Who's putting out this poll? Karl Rove? Democrat's need to stop all the infighting and put your eyes on the "real" prize. If not, out days are numbered.

Don't let fear be so influential in your decision. Any democrat that votes for McCain has serious insecurity issues on a personal level. McCain is Bush III. Obama or Hillary is what America needs and will truly benefit from.

Of course McCain will beat O'bama because the democrats are throwing away our only real threat to the republicans, Cliinton. Why are we so easily led by the hype of "hope" and a pretty package. After this, I will be proud to call myself an "Independent".

I'm usually stuck voting for the democrats, its clear to even me that McCain is going to be the next president. It wouldn't even be close except that CNN will always root for the underdog to make sure of a tight race for the sake of their own ratings at the expense of the public good.

I have to agree if obama beats Clinton then I will vote republican to please dont make me do that!!!!

I think a lot of people are feeling so strongly about Clinton and Obama right now that it's easy to say they'll vote for McCain if their choice does not win the nomination. Heck, I've thought about it myself. But I think those numbers stand to dwindle in the course of the general campaign. How many Democrats, when really faced head on with the possibility of four more years of Republic reign, are going to vote for that? Far fewer than are saying so now, I believe.

McCain better able to handle Iraq? Mr. One Hundred Years of Occupation? What out-of-touch lunatics were these pollsters talking to?

The so-called "I'm a democrate, BUT….I will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee," To Quote Hillary, You need a reality check, you are nothing more than a bigot and a traitor to democracy. The Republican party has proved they are more interested in fascist policies than democracy. We need democracy restored, so we can once again be proud of our country. ELECT OBAMA 2008

Jeremy is a republican.

If Obama wins the democratic nomination, I too will vote for McCain. Obama has never been vetted, although Fox News is starting to discuss issues basically untouched by CNN.

Good go support McCain because he will need all the support he can get since his own party is not behind him. The conservatives will go Nader or some other third party canidate, the silly Hillary supporters (30% of her supporters) will go McCain, the independents will go Obama, and Obama will keep all the supports he already have and get the other true democratic Hillary Supporters (the other 70% of her supporters). Yeah, Obama will win in November!!!

I think hillary is heading back to the Senate. If she wants to make history, here's how she should do it:

Take the lead in the Senate to get a health care bill through the Senate to President Obama.

This is actualy the hard part. The president can only sign or veto, but it is Congress where these bills survive or die. And it will be very hard work, with the GOP fighting every step fo the way.

Imagine that, even not in the White House, she redeems her failure in 1993 and achieves what the Democrats have not achieved since Truman tried.

This would really be making history.

All the talk about Obama and experience. What experience did Bush have? How about the experience of Cheyne and Rumsfield. Were they good for the country?

If McCain = President, then:
Me = Canadian.
That's all I'm saying.

If Its Obama. Im voting for McCain!!!

I guess when Obama was so full of himself a while ago and said he was sure he could get all of Hillarys votes, He was wrong!!

Let's see how the Democrats slime a true military hero in their thirst for power!

The '3rd Bush Term' is such a juvenile response.

McCain is a presumptive nominee, while Obama (the likely nominee) is still fighting out. His national poll numbers will look better once he is the clear nominee. Also, futures markets are typically a better indicator than polls, and Obama has a firm lead over McCain in most of these.

"Obama has come from behind in EVERY state that he has won other than Illinois. For the general election he starts off with a 6 point lead. The more people get to know Obama, the more they seem to like him and gravitate towards him. I think he is going to be diving into McCains base of supporters as this thing goes on. But the fact that Obama is ahead in the polls already shows that people are leaning his way in the general election."

- AGREED! It is funny, this article could have (and should have) been titled: "Poll: Obama's hard to beat."

Hmmm, wonder why you didn't title it that way, CNN???? Where is this supposed bias now??

February 27th, 2008 11:39 am ET

why isn't the media talking about how big of a lead John Mccain has over Obama on national security and not as big of a lead agaisnt Hillary. You the media have given Obama a free ride–if the Democrats end up with a nominee that hasn't been vetted properly-I WILL blame you !!!!!!!!!!!! I use to listen to CNN but you are so biased agaisnt Hillary that I have to watch FOX NEWS(YUCK) to get fair reporting. All that I ask–please be even with your coverage.

I AGREE! CNN is disgraceful and I for one will vote republican this year like hundreds of other thousands. This will definitely turn the election in McCain's favor so I hope.

Obama will only go down from here - he is currently living in a media bubble and his popularity is at a fevered pitch.

Once the motivational aspect of Obama wears off, can he compete?

I'm a Republican and can tell you that after two terms of Bush as President, Obama seems like the best choice to lead the nation. If he wins the nomination for the Dems I will be casting my vote for him in Nov. If Hillary wins, well then I think that McCain may be the lesser of two evils.

I am a former Republican turned independent who wants desperately to vote for Obama in the general election. My husband registered to vote last week for the first time because he has been inspired by Senator Obama. To Hillary supporters: Please, guys, we don't want the republicans to steal this election again! Any Democrat who would vote for McCain over Obama. . . is not really a Democrat. So, you guys want 100 years of war in Iraq, the same stale economic policy, and a government by and for the corporations. Rediculous.

Let's see how "Speeches" does in a debate against MCcain. Speeches will not have Hillary there to agree with.

A Obama/Clinton Democratic would unite the party and "sweep" the Democrats into the White House and Congress. — Did anyone else get the feeling in last night`s debate that`s where this could be headed ???

same me if Senator Clinton is not the Party nominee, my friends and I will vote for John McCain. Clinton is our first choice since she is a fighterr and has experience.

the poll is suspect… who in hell would vote for another republican president? the demented christian right?

Let's see how Obama (AKA "Speeches") does in a debate against MCcain. He will no longer have Hillary to agree with.

Based on the grammar I am reading in these comments, I vote for the candidate most willing to support edjucation.

Can I just say that it is ridiculous that some of you Democrats who support Obama or Clinton say you would rather vote for John McCain if your candidate does not get the nomination. Barack and Hillary have very similar agendas, and I think it's almost childish to say you would rather give the White House to someone who would keep us in Iraq another hundred years over a candidate who shares your political views. Let's not be stubborn and see this country falter for another 4 years.

The democrats started off with a wonderful field of candidates - More experienced than McCain and all the other republican candidates combined. But the media and "blind followers" refused to consider them instead focusing on the "new" and "fun" ones even though they were the least likely to win against the experienced republicans. Dems have no one but their own party to thank for that. You think the DNC couldn't see this writing on the wall months ago? Almost like they wanted to lose because they certainly have handed the election over. It will be the republicans again next year and this dem is going to vote that way if Obama is the dem candidate. I started off looking for an experienced candidate last June and that is exaclty what I'm going to vote for.

"Democrats for McCain"

If you seriously think that voting for McCain is the "RIGHT" thing to do if your Democrat doesn't get nomination:

a. You've been living under a rock for the past seven years

b. You've been suckered into thinking McCain is a moderate

c. You are a Republican poser pretending to be a Democrat.

Democrats vote Democratic this November.

View these poles with great suspicion.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. I'm so very tired of the HRC supporters who claim to be Democrats but only want it their way.

By the time of the convention (most likely before), you will have a clear winner and a clear loser. If it's not your candidate … well, that's what the process is all about. HRC people professing that the Superdelegates should change the will of the popular vote are the same ones who were jumping up and down about the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore. Such hypocracy.

I have voted GOP in every national election since I was old enough to vote (that was Reagan in '80), and after the last 8 years I have been giving the Dems a serious look. I've made a deliberate effort to open my mind. I've read Obama's book, and I've read Berstein's book on HIllary, and tried to persuade my Republican friends to do the same..

Dems, losing rapidly losing the interest of one open minded Republican with this childish infighting.

I will not change. If Hillary is not on the ballot I will vote for McCain as will all of my family members.

Can someone tell me why CNN is not reporting Obama is under investigation by the IRS for mixing church and state.
Or why there not discussing Michelle Obamas comments in Wisconsin about our souls being broken. "we need to fix our souls before Barack can start working on the problems in America."

My soul does not need fixing and her comments outrage me!!!

Once the bitter Hillary supporters get over their heartbreak it will once again be 60-40 Obama.

Have to agree as a long time democrat and a middle aged women if Obama is the nominee I go with McCain. That seems to be the common theme among my peers yet one that seems to be ignored. Maybe because we are middle aged women we are invisiable to many of you in the media just like you have treated Sen Clinton

I don't trust this poll for a second, considering that all the other polls show Obama with a 6-7 point lead over McCain, well outside the polls' margin of errors. I also have heard a rumor that Republicans are saying they support Hillary when asked by pollsters as a way to try to get her to be the nominee, since she would be eminently more beatable than Barack.

I will not vote for an inexperienced 40-something-ish individual to run this country just because he's charismatic and wears nice suits.

Who cares about the polls anyway? DO I trust them? Are they always accurate? And who are those who are voting in these polls anyways?

I DO NOT want to vote for McCain either but Obama's will be worse for this country. If Obama wins the nomination I will not vote for him and neither is my family.

It looks funny even before knowing who are the nominees from each Party, people are making Polls who can beat who?

November is a century in Politics, a lot of twists and turns can not be ruled out at the moment.

all the Hillary supporters on here who say they will abandon the party and vote for McCain if she is not the nominee: that is exactly why she isn't getting the nomination. Bush=McCain=Hillary, all the same politics as usual. If you would rather have an escalation in Iraq and tax cuts for the rich instead of some sensible Barack policies than please leave, you will only hurt our team as we try to get real work done anyhow…

Experience always trumps naive oratory! I have always voted Democrat but it seems this time I will be voting for John McCain. It is true, people in this country are so delusional that they are willing to forego true responsibility.

The country has gone through seven years of inexperience and stupidity. The people are willing to go through with this simply because they see an "inspirational" speaker, "GIVE ME A BREAK!!"

I guess I'm not understanding the world of politics - this country has come to be so against the Iraq war, our men and women being killed or coming home maimed physically and mentally, and our economy suffering terribly because of the stupendous amount of money being spent each month with no end in sight. How can it be that McCain has any supporters at all? How can we vote for someone who has no plans to end this insanity? I truly don't understand.

Democratic Voters will choose McCain if Obama win's? I would love to hear the
reasons(time to face ourselves) behind this non-intelligent thinking. Why
cut off your noses to spite your face?

OBAMA 08.

For a true Democrat to say they would vote for McCain if Obama then a) your a Republican starting mess, b) enjoy the eight years of Bush, c) obviously are an out of touch with reality Clinton supporter. If Senator Clinton was any other qualified woman running for President then she would stand a far better chance than being herself. She is a divider of solutions vs. a unifier of solutions.

If Obama gets nominated then I will vote for McCain.

Experience will bring change but without experience there is no change!

Talk is cheap!

These polls are incorrect. Don't trust them. If you're a Dem and your candidate doesn't win the primary, don't vote for McCain out of spite, that's perhaps the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. If you must protest your candidate not winning (Whinary supporters) then vote for Nader or write in the losing (Hillary) Dem nominee. If you vote for McCain you can no longer call yourself a Democrat.

Suspicious sampling strategy they must have used. Just a week ago I read a few reputable polls showing Obama heads up with McCain 6-8 points ahead. What happened to cause a 8-10 point turn around?

This is not a true account and essentially a meaningless statisitic. McCain does not have an opponent.

If there are any REAL democrats on this blog that are saying they will vote for Mccain if Hilary doesn't win are being very childish. I want you to go back on the blog and list all the wonderful things that McCain stands for that makes you want to vote for him. Tell me, do you like being in a war, do you want the rich to keep getting a tax break, do you want your jobs to continue to go abroad, do you want your house taken away from you?

If the answer to all these questions i yes… then go ahead and vote for McCain. if the answer is no then stop acting so childish.

It's definitely funny to see the people who say they are Democrats but will vote for McCain - they all talk about how they watch Fox News for their "objective" coverage.

Sorry, but that's like a wolf saying he's a sheep while chewing on some lamb chops.

Its a bunch of Hillary supporters making comments with the hope of scaring people to vote her. Try again!!! If you truly support Hillary and her vision, you will not vote McCain in November if she does not win the nominee because when it comes down to it, Hillary and Obama are Xerox copies of each other.

I would like to point at that in the 2004 primary both Edwards and Kerry beat Bush in the POLLs. So all of those who Obama supporters who think he is sure thing better think again. I am a democrat who does not foresee voting for him and I vote in every election, so….

If "Obama" was a 100% White (He is only 50 % Now ) , with his ablilities he would have already won the democratic race hands down by now , Mc Cain would not even have 80 - 20 chance to win the election as per the Polls

I Think Obama is the Best Candidate , Hillary Second and Mc Cain Third .

I Really feel bad seeing all this comments , How can people even think that way , They dont Love America , People still look at an Eye of skin, Race & Religion

McCain IS NOT another Bush. He actually crosses party lines on a few things, and is not afraid to challenge Republicans. THAT'S what we need in office — someone semi-conservative who can and WILL challenge the far right conservatives. More will get done this way. Trust me.

And I'm glad he wants to go the distance in Iraq. He doesn't just want to cut and run. We broke it, we need to fix it.

Barak is soft on national security he will surrender to our enemy I know John and Hillary will not we can't take this risk.

Nice to hear the Poor losers……"If Hillary loses then I vote for McCain". Enjoy having your children and Grandkids in Iraq for the next 100 years. Dolts!

This Democrat will be voting for McCain if, and ONLY IF, Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee… Obama is too far left, out of touch with reality, and simply an unsuitable candidate for our country at this time. Hillary is the more moderate choice, whose positions on key issues of education, health care, the war, and many others are more in line with the majority of Democrats. It baffles me that someone whose on the fringe, like Obama, has managed to shore up so much support.

PLEASE don't vote on the basis of an emotional response. Look at each candidate's record. Forget all of the hype and BS. It's politics! And as to news reports, the media needs conflict to keep their ratings up. This is too important to rely on what the pundits say.

How in the world can anyone say McCain is a "continuation" of Bush? Give me a break. McCain has fought with Bush on a host of issues.

I thought McCain was the sort of Republican Democrats could like? I guess that was true — until he became the Republican nominee. Now he's, what, evil? That is laughable.

The fact is there's a lot of contrast between Bush and McCain, and everyone knows it.

Most likely the race is going to be McCain against Obama. I like Obama's personality, he is great at energizing crowds behind him. But I don't think a lot of Obama supporters are really looking at the issues. To think that someone could walk into the presidency and all of the sudden everything is magically fixed is ridiculous. I don't see how electing Obama is going to change anything. Actually I think his stances on the issues will make everything worse!

It makes me sad that democrats are willing to give up their beliefs if Clinton is not the nominee. How could any dem vote for a mini-Bush? SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!?!?! I don't understand one bit. Luckily I don't have to worry about it too much… President Obama is what we will be calling him soon!

CHANGE 08!

The Democrats are weak against terrorism.
They do not believe in the war in Iraq.
They want to cut and run.

America has been in Japan and Germany for over 60 years since WW2.
100 years in Iraq is realistic.

McCain 08.

"I LOVE IT!"

Every Republican POSER is posting on this story saying "I'm a Democrat and I'll vote for McCain if my Democratic candidate doesn't get the nomination."

POSERS!

I'm taking names. Meet me outside at lunch time

This is a bizarre poll. AP-Ipsos had it 51 Obama vs. 41 McCain. Even Fox had it 47 Obama vs. 42 McCain. Both as of this week. RCP Average of 6 National Polls has it 47 Obama vs 43 McCain. All were outside the margin of error. Why is the Times/Bloomberg so off the mark? Is Mike Bloomberg trying to paint things as a toss-up, so he can run? I sure wish CNN would vet these polls and put them in context before regurgitating the results.

I'm yet another Hillary supporter who will switch and vote McCain if Obama is the Democratic nominee. Oh, and Sarah L., it's NOT because of the division in the party caused by the bickering between Hillary and Obama… it's because of the lack of experience Obama possesses, and the strut he seems to have acquired. The media is to blame for some of that, as well as making some of us sick to our stomachs of this cult-like following. Voters need to wake up and be responsible for their actions. The fate of our country is on the line. HILLARY '08

Can somebody tell HRC, please quit before she drags everybody into a black hole? Stop negative campaign, for God's sake.

HELLO! Check your facts!
McCain will be 72 yrs old by Nov. 2008 —
and age 76 if he finishes out his first term!

If Obama wins the nomination, my vote is McCain.
Lets see the debates for the general election. The word "change" is going to be translated as "empty promises".
By the way this goes on the account of bias media including CNN…

How about you side switchers just stay home on election day!!!

to all the NUTS DEMOCRATS:
my friends and I care very much for this country if does mean we have to change Parties, so be It.. We prefer as a President some one like Hilary Clinton, a strong, experienced and capableperson, if she goes then our votes goes for John McCain. Period.

The only chance the Democrats have over McCain is on the economy. On that issue, Clinton wins.

Obama versus McCain on foreign policy is a losing argument for Dems. Maybe not in the primaries, but in the general election it surely is a loser.

The only true American, the only one who has always supported the U.S. Constitution, is Ron Paul.

hey you can say all ypu want to about McCAIN AND OBAMA being ahead of CLiNTON But she is ten times better for America than OBAMA OR McCAIN if you want for america four more years of the same then dont vote for ( HiLLERY CLiNTON ) 08

Considering the world today, we cannot have a "trainee" in the white house, its either hillary or McCain, Obama would be an excellent Vice President. Go hillary! if not Hillary then McCain.

Ya ya! Some here will be sore losers because their candidate from the Democratic Party side does not get the nomination. You want to vote McCain? Go ahead that is your choice….

At this time Hillary and Barack are still fighting for the nomination while McCain is not fighting with anyone. It is only natural for McCain to seem better. It does not mean McCain is better. Just wait and see….

Any democrat who is voting for Obama or Clinton, I dont see how you can say you would vote for Mcain if either one does not get the nomination. I am for Obama but it is a shame to hear people say that "if Clinton gets the nomination I am voting for Mcain" or the other way around. The main issue is Iraq! Mcain is speaking of "other wars" and 10,000 years in Iraq! How can any sane democrat support this? Do you realize what you are saying? We do not need another 4 or 8 years of this crap! Mcain is an older version of George Bush himself! Talk about Farrackhan supporting Obama…. I think Bush's endorsment of Mcain is even worse.

Every divisive comment on these posts, beginning with the very first one, helps McCain in the general election. Both Clinton and Obama supporters who have become rude in their overzealous support of their candidate need to stop it now or they will be responsible for the 100 years war to come. Don't point fingers. Grow up and get together. For people whose candidates agree on every posistion (their plans are different-positions are not) you sure are disagreeable with eachother. Take responsibilty for your insulting remarks and put a stop to them.

Now this new poll shows that Clinton is the better candidate against McCain. So far CNN poll was shoing Obama was better candidate. I think this new poll is correct. Obama can't stand aginst a white republican moderate candidate like McCain. What Bill Schneider is going to say for this? He keeps supporting Obama and keep blogging about Obama.

Vicky, I didn't hear Michelle Obama's comment. Where can I find that? That woman is a piece of work. I can't believe the media does not go after her as much as they go after any little thing Bill Clinton says.

McCain hard to beat??? How about McCain, hard to stay awake!

How Can you Preface

MCCAIN'S HARD TO BEAT..

and the "polls" show him being beat by Obama??

Fed chief is right now saying he is extremely worried about inflation=bad economy……..watch grandpa mc. come out and say the economy is excellent the same way he says that iraq has never been safer as it is now……..well, vote for this man and you´ll see what you get…..being a prisoner of war makes him an expert ???
As for all of those low life democrats who WILL VOTE for mc century you are just trash and traitors.

We need change our simple,

We need change our naiive,

We need change our unfaireness,

we need change our untruth

—— Yes , we need change

—— Yes, we can.

Clinton did not land a knock out punch. Obama was more presidential. It's time to rally the throops and end this mess. While I believe their is definately racism and sexism in the back-drop it still remains Clinton was on all level out organized. Let's stop the fighting, unite and take the White House!

Ya think? I have voted Democrat for many years and would never vote for Prince Ditto of Happy Hope-y Land.

It is appalling to me that Obama supporters think we need to be good little Democrats and fall in line behind some bore with no integrity.

No one has been paying attention to how well McCain has consistently done in the polls.

I'm a Democrat…. McCain is nothing like Bush. If you think so, you've been blinded by the 'light.'

Clinton wins the democratic nomination, then McCain is the next President. Obama wins, then he is the next President. There are too many independents like me, as well as many republicans, who will not vote for Hillary, no matter what. I will vote for Obama, however.

Clinton is the right candidate against McCain. There are somany issues with Obama. Farrakhan issue, Middle Name issue, Somalian Dress Issue, Universal healthcare issue, Experience issue, etc.. etc…

To the NNB family. Thanks for nothing!

Its not about the polls, its about the turnout…

…and the way its going doesn't look like McCain will win more than 3 states…

…but a good try CNN.

I'm not voting for McCain. it's either Clinton or nobody

honestly, I do not want in the White House a person such as Obama , someone who we all be afraid to criticize him afraid to be called racists. I want some one who takes responsibility for his decision and I want to feel freee to question a President and not to be afraid to open my mouth. does by I care very much for Hillary Clinton and not for Obama.

It's never going to be easy to beat a war mongering Republican who will tell the uneducated that we are all going to be attacked relentlessly by terrorists if we don't put a "tough" ex-POW in office.

Let's not forget yesterday's poll, however, which has Obama beating McCain by 12 points.

Still, this is more a sign than ever that Hillary MUST GET OUT. She's busy tearing down Obama while McCain is sitting pretty and unscathed.

Of course that's what the "polls" show. How else are you going to believe that the election is not rigged? Did you forget that not too long ago Guilliani was leading the polls?

I also see that the Federal Reserve is now concerned about inflation in addition to the recession. Way to not support the one person willing to actually tackle the issue.

JJ,

>>Mcain is speaking of "other wars" and 10,000 years in Iraq! How can any sane democrat support this?

I am a Democrat, but what McCain is saying is that his policy will be based on what progress he sees or does not see on the ground, as opposed to "immediate withdrawal". I really don't think that's such a winning argument for the Dems in the general election. McCain is going to say George Bush's execution of the war was a disaster but that his surge strategy was a success, and he should be allowed to finish out the war.

-Mike

Oh and to all you Obama supporters who say Dems are wacko for considering switching parties if Hillary's not the nominee… Didn't your beloved First Lady-wannabe make the comment she doesn't even know that she would support the Dem nominee if it's not Barack?? Ha.

more proof that Hilliary is great as a divisive despot, her loyal subjects are running to the other side in order only to hurt her current opponent, a little telling of her "abilities" as a ruler. And you want her to represent our country?

I do not understand the so-called advantage McCain has in discussing the war in Iraq. Just because years ago he was a soldier and prisoner of war??????? So what that does not make him an expert on war anymore than any other soldier or lay person. The war he fought is long over.
What about the economy, what about education, health and the needs of the American people he never discusses anything except the war, which he wants us to remain in for years to come. Not who I want for my President.
Go Obama

This Democrat will vote for McCain if Obama is the party's nominee. I can sleep well casting this vote!

Ha ha, most Americans are tolerant of views that differ from their own. For this reason the closed-minded, hateful, and dishonest left has no chance at winning the presidency.

Just read the comments from those on the left and those on the right. The libs are completely controlled by emotional hate and anger. You never see a lib making their case with facts, it is always foaming at the mouth emotional hate-based rhetoric. It is why you can disagree with a Republican and still have a friend, but disagree with a Democrat and they will hate you for life. Even Obama libs Vs. Clinton libs hate each other, just look at the story of those two brothers, this is the American lib in 2008.

WOW look at all these Clinton supporters. Ya'll just a bunch of cry babies just like her. I'm a demo and I support Obama and if he lose the primary election to clinton, I would vote for clinton over mccain in the general. even though i don't like her but i want the demo 2 take back the white house.

Honestly anyone that would go from Hillary to McCain have to be a republican. He stands for everything Hillary does not. Its mind boggling. YOU WONT GET HEALTH CARE WITH MCCAIN…WE WILL BE IN IRAQ fro 100 years…..HE WANTS TAX BREAKS FOR COOPERATIONS permament. He is just Bush Jr, running. You think the country is messed up now?

Those who are so mad that will vote for McCain are really putting there vendetta against Obama hgher then there values and goals in life. Name one thing that will benifit you from the McCain?

Of course the 10 people that post here about Clinton are probably Republicans wanting to face her.

If the Republicans would have kept out of the Democratic primary, Hillary would have been the nominee against McCain. Because the Republicans screwed up our nominee we have the possibility of having Obama. I can't stand Obama so I would have to vote for McCain. Go Hillary! Save America! We need You!

and to you who say if Obama wins the nomination you will vote for McCain, how much is Hillary paying you to blog here.

Get out of here.

To all OBAMA's supporters:

WHERE IS THE BEEF??????

Those posts that are "threatening" to vote for McCain "if Obama gets nominated" are so obviously fake!! If you read carefully, you can even see that a lot of them were written by the same - *sigh* not very well educated - person. Of course such lame attempts will have zero effect on the nomination results (Clinton is so done!), but it surely tells us something about "hard-core Hillary fans"… Sad and pathetic…

With no disrespect to Senator McCain, this election is about America's past (for which Senator McCain is the poster boy) or America's future (which Senator Obama is getting so many Americans to believe in). I hate to say it, but it is a little bit like the Reagan promise in 1980 (are our best days behind us or ahead of us?). Despite his past service, I don't think anybody believes McCain has a vision of what this country will need to be 20 years in the future … and that is what we need in our next President.

I'm an African American supporting Hillary Clinton 100! However, if she is not the nominee, I will stay home and not vote at all. I've always said if I had to vote for a republican it would be John McCain, but after his wanting to continue the war hype I've changed my mind about him also. It's Hillary or nobody!

These national polls are meaningless. Our president is not elected by national popular vote. What are the match ups looking like in individual states, including the swing states of Ohio, FL, MO, CO and NM?

Joe go to New York Times article yesterday by William Kristol. She said these things at a rally in Wisconsin.

Then the poll is saying the majority of citizens are for staying in Iraq and blowing our economy to hell.

Not what I hear and see in everyday life.

In another poll, just out, Obama leads McCain 49 to 42%, while Clinton and McCain are tied at 46% each. Too early to be very informative, but in most recent polls, Obama beats McCain, Clinton doesn't.

Reject and denounce have two different definitions. Reject is not even a synonym for denounce. Obama was wrong.

McCain is the past, Democrats are the future.

when McCain talks its 'straight talk express' and Hillary does the same, its 'rude, arrogant, egoistic' … The media is fully of junk heads. Guys like Jack Cafferty and Gloria Borger really make no sense. and when they give their analysis, they voice their opinion rather than the analysis of the facts.

CNN if you dont do something about your political analysts, you shall no longer be the "best political team on telivision" period

That's a joke! George W. Bush must have made that stupid comment! John McCain may as well "hang it up" as far as every becoming President of the United States!

Kathryn Irby

McCain will lose. No Country For Old men.

Just read these comments by Obama supporters. You think I want to be side by side with people who degrade Hillary or her supporters like you guys are doing? We are upset. You guys just don't get it. We are not blinded by Obama and his spell he has on you. I want someone with EXPERIENCE, Not a hope!

It does not matter whether the Democratic nominee is Clinton or Obama. McCain would beat either one.

Obama gets nod its McCain's election to lose. Clinton gets nod, its a even race.

I am registered democrat. My vote is going to be for Hillary.
If Hillary does not get nomination, then I will vote for Mccain.

This is the Clintons doing. They hope Obama loses to McCain so Hillary can come back in 2012 and get the nomination. They are dirtying him up so he loses to McCain. Simple. She can't win, it is mathematically impossible at this point. THAT is their goal. Watch.

McCain should go into retirement.

The beef is on his website: stop regurgitating the same empty phrase ("Where's the beef?") and do your homework!

Ii'm an Independent, and have been supporting Hillary. However, if she doesn't win the democratic primary as nominee, THEN IT IS JOHN McCAIN all the way for me. My entire family feels this way and will vote for McCain in November. NO WAY we're going to vote to give the keys to the white house to Obama. So, all you Obama wannabee's, including the biased press, can get over it. McCain is so much more experienced and just right for the country vs. Obama, you could write a book about it.

Go Hillary Rodham Clinton!!! She has a stronger ability in her arsenal to beat McCain far better than Obama. We need President Clinton!

Whomever wrote the headline obviously did not bother to read the article. According to the article, Obama and McCain are tied (within the margin of error) on both who would win and who people approved of more. There is NOTHING in the article that would lead a sane person to conclude that McCain would be "hard to beat".

Wait till the first debate…McCain will have to crawl under a rock when either Clinton or Obama gets finished with him.

Well OK…maybe he will just fall asleep!

There aren't enough women in the country to make her majesty the president. Republican women can't stand her cest le vie Hillary!!!!

Senator Hilllary Rodham Clinton first!
I will not vote for Barack Hussein Obama.

Senator McCain may very well be the next President!

McCain is ahead because all those Republicans that supported Obama in the primaries are now voting for McCain. The turn out was not for the democratic party, but the ABC (anybody but Clinton) party. If they could make sure she didn't even make it to the general, well then more power to them.

I commend the author of this article for his accurate portrayal of a poll, which is extremely rare in the media. A statistical tie is important, and it makes no sense for reporters to extol a candidate being one or two points ahead in a poll, when in reality that means absolutely nothing. It means they are tied. And I appreciate this author recognizing that and correctly portraying that in this article. I hope other writers take a page from his book and report similarly (aka accurately)

How childish does the following quote sound?

"I'm a lifelong democrat who will vote republican for the first time in my life if Hillary is not the nominee."

I think some of the Hillary supporters are pouting like 5-year olds. They would rather vote for more wars, tax cuts for the rich, less freedom, no subsidized health care, and a continuiation of Bush's failed policies just to prove how angry they are that Hillary didn't win.

NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT THIS WAY OF THINKING MAKES SENSE.

Please stay home whiners! We don't need your senseless vote anyway.

For every bit Obama makes me hope about the possibility of an educated political base in this country, the CNN commenters strip it away, inch by inch.

I am right there with you Jacob! It is a shame that fellow "whipocrats" will change their own party and vote for McCain if an Afro-American wins the democratice nomination. Seems this country is still beholden to it's racist roots!

I come from the future and Hillary won. There's no need to worry now that you know.

I think this comment lists demonstrates exactly why this poll is misleading. Right now, there are lots of emotionally distraught democrats who are claiming "if my guy/gal doesn't win, I'll vote for McCain!" If you're voting on policy, that's absurd. If you're voting on experience, then you wouldn't be supporting either Barack or Hillary, you'd be supporting Richardson or Biden (by the way, Barack has spent more time in elected office than Hillary has). Once the dust settles, the angry democrats will come to their senses and support the better candidate and John McCain will lose to either Clinton or Obama.

Obviously this is a poll for wimps, since CNN will not post anything that is of a derogatory nature against the current administration, therefore eliminating freedom of speech to those that have views are consistent with those of CNN. Obama does offer hope for our country, and if he is elected we will once again be in a position to truthfully, (without tongue in cheek) to say we are proud of our country. Democrats that would vote for McCain, just because Obama is the nominee are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, but that's okay, go for it, and you will certainly deserve the results if McCain, who is a Bush Buddy wanna be is elected.

I am a Deocrat that will not vote for Obama. He does not have any experience. Obama can not stand on his own 2 feet, all he does is copy everything off Hillary and said he didn't vote on the Iraq war, He wasn't there and then he says if he was there he don't know how he would have voted. Obama is full of BULL.

Yup. I prefer Hillary but if Obama wins, I'm voting for McCain.

This headline is crazy. I read it and thought McCain would be in the lead. It should say Obama-McCain in a dead heat.

I am sure that McCain supporters would not like it if a poll showing them tied said, "Poll: Obama Hard to Beat."

Why is it with Hillary it's always fight this fight that .. isn't there another way to do business??

Could it be that the network and poll 'reports' are to influence the advertising dollar of the campaign's ?

Nah, they wouldn't stoop that low. Wait, on the other hand ….

How Can you Preface

MCCAIN'S HARD TO BEAT..

and the "polls" show him being beat by Obama??

Clinton just galvenizes republicans and independats against her. And democrats don't like the way she gender divides them. Too much division in her.

What a lying piece of trash this poll is? Let's see, 70% of the US is against the war and the warmonger is the top choice? Yeah right, tell us some more BS CNN.

This guy is more warmongering filth that will drag us down the toilet as Bush as done.

You better go ahead with that.

I am a Hillary supporter; if Obama wins the nominee I will be voting for McCain, this country has no time for a rookie to lead this great nation,
Do you really think Obama can win if Clinton supports vote for McCain
You do the math republican votes plus Clinton supports votes equal No more Obama. I will take experience over hope any day.

I will not vote for Obama either, he's arrogant to think Hillary supporters would support him if she doesn't win the nomination.

My vote will be for McCain

Thanks Vicky!! More needs to get out about Michelle Obama…she's got a lot in her closet that needs to be checked into. I have a friend in Chicago who says she is bossy, loud and arrogant.