(CNN) - After the long, bruising primary battle with Hillary Clinton, a lot of Democrats were concerned Barack Obama would have a problem getting support from women, but the big surprise is that it could be men who become the deciding factor this election cycle.
According to the latest CNN Opinion Research Corporation Poll Obama is running nearly even with John McCain among men. McCain has a slight edge with 49 percent to Obama’s 47 percent. Meanwhile, Obama leads McCain by 9 points among women 52 percent to 43 percent.
WATCH Why men could be the deciding factor
The support from men has become crucial for Republicans in past elections.
According to exit polls from the 2000 election, 53 percent of men helped George W. Bush get elected in 2000, with only 42 percent of men supporting Al Gore. In 2004 George Bush was re-elected with 55 percent support from men to John Kerry’s 44 percent. Most women voted for Gore and Kerry.
In fact, in the last nine presidential elections going back to 1972, men have voted for the Democrat only twice: for Jimmy Carter in 1976, when the economy was bad and a Republican was in the White House. And for Bill Clinton in 1992, when the economy was bad and a Republican was in the White House.
In the 2008 presidential cycle, the economy is bad and a Republican is in the White House, giving Obama a foothold with male voters.
Forty-four percent of men ranked the economy as their number one concern and among the nearly half of men who say their top concern is the economy, Obama has a 7 point lead, 52 percent to McCain’s 45 percent.
That's the thing about the gender gap. It's usually taken to mean women vote Democratic. But it also means men vote Republican — at least, it used to.
From CNN Politics
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SCHNEIDER YOU HAVE BEEN WRONG MOST OF THE TIME
DURING THE PRIMARY, AND YOU ARE WRONG TODAY,
ABOUT THE GENERAL ELECTION.
THOUGHT WILL BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR.
THOSE WHO THINK FOR THEMSELVES, AND DON'T
EXCEPT AS FACT WHAT MR. MORON HAS TO SAY.
The men will be nothing compared to the MILLIONS of women that will not vote for a dishonest,unAmerican hypocrite.... who was selected NOT ELECTED !!
Not to mention obama pays to threaten us, no thanks! he's a thug.
Of course, Obama will probably win because every low life who always expects the government to take care of them will vote for Obama! We want it free!! That is their motto. Race has nothing to do with this. It is credibility and sincerity! This country will go to hell in a hand basket if the Obama crowd gets in power.
Yes, indeed, it IS because men have an amazing ability to cut through the bull and the lies and emotions and see people for who they really are. And as for women, you just can't "put it over" on a woman forever with respect to Obama's "fairy tales." Foregone conclusion: By the time this is done, both men and women will support John McCain overwhelmingly.
Funny thing happens when you finally have to cast that important final vote. You put aside all the "hype" and "sound bites" and ask: "Who, REALLY, will best protect my family and my country," and who, REALLY, has demonstrated the greatest accomplishments and genuine experience to solve our economic crisis.
Obama really is a phony and a fake.... very smooth at manipulating the media and public opinion.
He morphs constantly to suit his immediate needs.
Women should see through this. Women generally can read people better. But somehow, because of the IRAQ war, Obama will get the votes of the very women he screwed and insulted and denigrated and mocked.
Not this woman.
I will remember in NOV- the mocking, the jeering, the brushing HRC off his shoulder.
I will neveer vote Obama- or democratic- again. Until Fair primaries return.
As this election process nears August, Obama will be exposed for the hypocrite he is. He's just another politician claiming he's for "change".
Hillary supporters will never vote for him... we've got his number!
Men could be the deciding factor" WRONG!
Women are 51% of the population and women will decide this election.
The DNC, Howard Dean and the Obama campaign ruined the Democratic Party. It is not fractured it is broken and will not be resurrect again.
Come and join the millions of women and men registered at
PUMA PAC........... Just Say No Deal !!!
(Coming to a city near you!) Look for us at the Democratic Convention. We'll be the ones protesting. Look out 1968 ,, heres comes 2008 !!!
Now it is the men
latinos
women
blue collar
Hillary people
now men
whatever
Go Obama 08
John.. how the hell is Obama running a dirty campaign and trashing Clinton? He's always praised her from beginning to end.. even though his supporters boo.. he continues to praise her. Obama has never said anything about any of her slips or stunts... he's always kept it clean. The media of course makes a point of talking about her slips and lies.. but then the media turns around and talks about all the rumors about Obama.
Stop the crying... stop the blaming.. this isn't high school anymore. Hillary is a non-issue.. she's already conceded defeat and put her support behind Obama. Stop being a baby.
In reply to Let's hope so:
Women owe nothing to Clinton and her rabid sour grapes hordes. If you are a real woman, you will vote with the future of your children and grandchildren in mind, not out of spite or self pity.
WAKE UP! Anyone who thinks McCain and his administration would lead this country in the right direction is completely delusional!!
BTW, I don't read any of you PUMA NUT JOBS screaming sexism at the attacks Michelle Obama has had to recently endure.
I think any smart man will vote for OBAMA. Come on, we had 8 years of some of the smartest and top military vets and officials running our country and yet they have managed to put us in a trillion dollar deficit, start a war without a clear plan to get us out, and now our economy is taking it stoll on all the mistakes this administration has made. Not to mention the corruption. America needs change, and Obama is it.
Brandon Hillary dem for mcain, you're an idiot! Why would you vote for someone who does not believe in what Hillary believes in? You call yourself a Hillary supporter? STUPID!!!!
This is for the stupid people who say Hillary only suspended her campaign not ended it. If she wants to continue to raise money she must not end her campaign, a suspension allows her to continue to receive donations. Can you understand that?
Hate to say it, but who cares. I'm tired of polls. It seems to change weekly who will decide the election, one week women, one week independents, now men....blah blah blah. The only true poll will be in November. That will be the one I believe, when I wake up November 5th I will know.
Hopefully, the issues will decide who gets elected. I am a man and I believe Obama is the best president the USA can have for the sake of the USA and for the sake of the world. That's because the ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT, not gender, not race, not age, etc.
If the women stay home McCain will win. Women have been shafted by the DNC and may just sit this one out. I will write her name on my ballot and sleep like a baby knowing I did the right thing.
Puppet Man...Puppet Man....
It will not be the men who are the deciding factor for Obama...it will be the 18 million who still want Hillary and will not settle for less! That man is scary.......so it will have to be McCain. Thanks to the good old DNC.
obama is a girlie man and according to McCain's camp, obama doesn't always tell the truth. I am shocked as I thought the fluff speech giver had more sense than to try to lie his way out of something like public financing.
The girlie man obama showed himself by shoveling sand in girlie gloves. His bowling game was right out of a girlie demonstration on how not to bowl.
He is prime to be a poster boy for the conscientious objectors.
to typical white male:
bill clinton got like 90% of the African American vote aswell, and so did Kerry. Democrats always had 90% of the African American vote, not Just Obama. Maybe you should research before you make untrue comments
Putting the word honest with politician is like sayin, "back to back they faced each other." Oxymoron...
Well, my Independent husband can't stand phony Obama and is
voting for McCain.
McCain said he did not want to run a negative campaign against Obama. All he is doing NON STOP is a negative attack campaign. People are seeing this and this will without a doubt hurt him.
Yea,guess we should just lay back and enjoy it,this isnt the weather.