[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/06/art.obama.lead.gi.jpg caption="A new national poll suggests Barack Obama is taking the lead."]
Likely voters nationwide:
Obama: 53 percent
McCain: 45 percent
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) - A new national poll suggests Barack Obama is widening his edge over John McCain in the race for the White House.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll out Monday afternoon suggests that the country's financial crisis, record low approval ratings for President Bush, and a drop in the public's perception of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin all appear to be contributing factors in Obama’s gains among voters.
Fifty-three percent of likely voters questioned in the poll say they are backing Obama for president, with 45 percent supporting McCain. That 8 point edge is double the 4 point margin Obama held in the last CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, taken in mid-September.
Low approval numbers for the current commander-in-chief may be part of the reason Obama’s fortunes are rising in the latest survey: Only 24 percent of those polled approve of President Bush's job performance, an all-time low for a CNN survey.
"Bush has now tied Richard Nixon's worst rating ever, taken in a poll just before he resigned in 1974, and is only 2 points higher than the worst presidential approval rating in history, Harry Truman's 22 percent mark in February 1952," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
Just listened to Sarah Palin here in Colorado. What a wacko. She only slung the mud. She really has no clue. Sad.
OBAMA*BIDEN
Obama did nothing to help the economy.
Nada!
I do make over $250K per year and I'm still going to vote for Obama. If you have children and love this country, you CANNOT put these two in the White House. Even if McCain was fit to govern, and he is decidedly not, Palin shouldn't be anywhere near a position of power. Ignorant and proud, she shames all of us.
This military wife and Republican of 20 years is abandoning her party. Thank you McCain! If I could take my primary vote back for you I would. I have seen the real Republican party and it disgusts me. A party who believes in making the rich richer and the poor poorer.
A party who believes life is sacred but only until he or she is born and then they don't care if it's born with an illness the child's family can't afford. Who cares if that sacred child has to attend pathetic public schools. Who cares for the sick and the needy. This is NOT the party of family values anymore. John McCain and Sarah Palin have proven that.
So maybe Sarah and John need to be prayed over again by Sarah's witch hunting minister before they open their mouths again!
It's real simple, if the economy tanks, Obama wins. If there is an international crisis, McCain will pull ahead. It is time for Bush to bomb somebody. How about those pirates off the Somali coast?
The more negative McCain goes, the higher he pushes Obama up i the polls. He's losing this election and he has no one to blame except himself.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the wonderful people of the USA. Go Obama/Biden!
Shame on you, McCain; of course, Palin has no shame, so we'll just ignor her for the rest of the campaign.
McCain, where is your honor? Where is your judgment? Where is your campaign of high road? Whay are your resorting to attacks and lies against your opponent?
You are now perceived as erratic and losing control of your own campaign.
Dear Senator McCain, The market dropped 800 points. Please suspend your campaign and jet to New York to rescue us. I lost a ton of money today!! I'm not kidding... SUSPEND YOUR CAMPAIGN!!!
I feel for it once with Bush, but not with you McCain.
Obama is the clear choice in this election for real change.
McShame Highlights have helped the slide, plus being a SHAMELESS LIAR doesn't help.
Plus Keating 5 will finish the debate for McShame.
Obama 08/12
I don't get it! dosen't mccain and palin know that we have been hearing about this bill ayers and jeremiah wright all year., and we don't believe the hype. Mccain is really insane! from mccain's behavior, this makes me believe that in Aug 08 mccain and his camp simply under estimated Barack Obama, and the American people. The republicans don't seem to get it. We are fed up with them. Its time for them to let the door hit them where the good Lord split em!
Of course he's ahead. He's the one talking about our country and how to solve our problems. That's what we want in a President. Obama, please don't start playing their game. We want a president we can believe in, that we're proud of and lives his life by good example. Mudslinging is desperate and is insulting to the voters. We want to know that the future president is reacting to our problems, not trivial grade school name calling.
Steady as she goes... Mccain turned out to be an idiot . How can he ignor the economy
This is more like it. America is waking up. Can't get too cocky though. See this through to the end strong.
Obama/Biden '08!
McCain askes "Who is the real Obama?"
He's the one kicking your butt. And from now on, address him as Senator Obama.... until November 5th when you may call him Mr. President elect.
No more lies, McCain!!!
Keep the focus on the economy McCain, neither Ayers nor Rev. Wright is going to bring back the money I lost in my IRA or my gas tank. Things must be getting bad for the Old Put America First Guy and Caribou Barbie to think I'm not keeping my eye on the economy. Take a powder McCain and just say Obama is the best man for the job at this time. America can't afford what you are cooking. In the end the Lipstick and the Pig will be saying hello to President Obama.
Given the WSJ article today on McCain's plans to slash Medicaid, I really don't think he's got a shot at Florida any more, or any other state with a significant number of seniors.
The more McCain goes negative, the larger Obama's poll numbers get. I just listened to a McCain speech and he bashed Obama the entire time. He did not outline his policy for this country. He is truly PATHETIC!
Truely sad that America will elect a totally unqualified con man over a true American hero. This is like the Fall of the Roman Empire, when a string of unqwualified emperors ruled. 200 years from now, people will say that America;'s fall started when Obama was elected.
We're tired of Bush and his brother McCain, and we've seen enough of the hideous parody that is Palin. Who cares if Barack is a crooked Chicago politician? I'd vote for the Arabs if they promised to put Bush on trial. I'm angry and my country is in ruins – who do I see about that? Complaint department? Run by Obama? Sounds good to me. Impeach the presidential chimp NOW before he runs off to Dubai!
McCain cannot be trusted. He is going to put this country into further ruin with his terrible economic ideas – which have already been tried over the last 8 years and look where we are.!
I still can't understand the other 47 percent.
MCCAIN/PALIN......THE THRILL IS GONE.....GONE AWAY....THE THRILL IS GONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!