NBC/WSJ poll: Obama increases national lead; economy, debates fuel jump

NBC News: NBC/WSJ poll: Obama increases national lead
Economy, first two debates fuel Obama-Biden ticket's jump among voters
By Mark Murray
Deputy political director
NBC News
Tues., Oct. 7, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Fueled in part by the candidates' responses to the current economic crisis — as well as their performances at the first debates — Barack Obama has increased his national lead over John McCain, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Obama is ahead of McCain by six points, 49-43 percent, which equals his biggest lead in this poll. Two weeks ago, the Democratic nominee held a two-point advantage over his Republican counterpart, 48-46 percent.

"Over the past couple of weeks, McCain has absorbed a very tough, one-two punch," says Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, who conducted this survey with Democrat Peter D. Hart. "First, the financial crisis... Second, the debates. These two things have clearly led to a momentum shift in this campaign, where Obama has slowly started to (increase) his lead."

With fewer than 30 days until Election Day, Hart adds, "I think John McCain finds himself in a hole no candidate wants to be in" — behind....

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Voters, the survey finds, believe Obama responded to the (economic) crisis more effectively than McCain did. Thirty-four percent say they felt more reassured by Obama's approach, versus 29 percent who said they felt less reassured. That's compared with just 25 percent who were reassured by McCain's response, versus 38 percent who were less reassured....

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The NBC/Journal poll also comes after the first presidential and vice-presidential debates. While analysts and pundits might disagree over the performances, the survey finds that there was a clear winner among voters: Obama-Biden. By a 50-29 percent margin, respondents say Obama and Joe Biden bested their GOP opponents at the debates....

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