Zogby: Barr Is McCain's Nightmare

[MicroBalrog]

Zogby: Barr Is McCain's Nightmare
Monday, July 7, 2008 9:14 AM


UTICA, New York � As the race for President passes the Independence Day holiday and heads toward the dog days of summer, Sen. Barack Obama holds a 44% to 38% lead over Sen. John McCain in the horserace contest, but also leads by a substantial margin in a state-by-state Electoral College tally, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.

The extensive national poll of of 46,274 likely voters also shows Libertarian candidate and former Congressman Bob Barr wins 6% support, eating into McCain�s needed conservative base of support.

Neither Obama nor McCain breaks a 50% favorable rating. Obama is viewed as very or somewhat favorable by 49.7%. For McCain, that number is 43.2%.

Pollster John Zogby: �Obama is in the driver�s seat right now, especially where it really counts - in the electoral votes. Bob Barr could really hurt McCain�s chances. McCain can�t afford the level of slippage to Barr we found among conservatives in this polling. While there has been plenty of talk about Obama�s recent emphasis on his centrist positions, he can get away with it during these dog days of the campaign as McCain finds himself still trying to shore up the conservative base. McCain will have to move to the center because right now Obama is clobbering him among independents. But there is the rub for McCain: Bob Barr has some juice among conservatives and is hurting him in several states. �

Bob Barr receives the support of 7% of voters who identify themselves as conservative or very conservative voters. Barr gets 43% of libertarians and 11% of independents. McCain�s support among conservatives is 74%. On the left, Ralph Nader gets less than 2% nationally.

Obama has the support of 83% of Democrats, while McCain gets 75% of Republicans.

Independents break 39% for Obama, compared with 31% who support McCain.

For white voters, race doesn�t appear to be playing a significant factor. McCain leads Obama, 43%-39%, with Barr at 6%. Among black voters, Obama wins the vast majority of support.

© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

i read that carefully  barr only gets 43% of libertarians? who are the reat voting for?paul?


then i saw it was newsmax

[MicroBalrog]

? who are the reat voting for?paul?

McCain.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

therein lies the difficulty in being a libertarian candidate. your own folk vote against ya

[MicroBalrog]

therein lies the difficulty in being a libertarian candidate. your own folk vote against ya

Most people who self-identify as libertarian do not vote for libertarian candidates.

[Tallpine]

therein lies the difficulty in being a libertarian candidate. your own folk vote against ya

Most people who self-identify as libertarian do not vote for libertarian candidates.

Of course, because then they would just be "throwing their vote away" 

[Manedwolf]

Barr is an irrelevant spoiler, just like Nader was for the Democrats.

[MrRezister]

I think the real problem is that if conservatives vote for Barr, Paul, or whoever else and McCain loses that 5% or whatever, then the Republican party will look at the numbers and say "Damn, we were SO CLOSE that time.  Maybe if we run someone who's just a LITTLE bit more liberal, we will win!"

[longeyes]

If libertarians want to put an anti-libertarian in the White House, all I can say is "Deus vult!"

[seeker_two]

I think the real problem is that if conservatives vote for Barr, Paul, or whoever else and McCain loses that 5% or whatever, then the Republican party will look at the numbers and say "Damn, we were SO CLOSE that time.  Maybe if we run someone who's just a LITTLE bit more liberal, we will win!"

I think you may be right......they may nominate Hillary at the upcoming convention..... 

[HK-91-762MM]

I will vote for BOB BARR!
 I hope I can send a small message to the RNC--Dont send me LIBERAL LITE as a canadate to vote for -!
As I live in Stinking NY state My vote is a lost cause anyway -But Im sticking to my GUNS-NO LIBERALS especially NO GUN CONTROL LIBERALS .. And we know MCcstain wants to kill gun shows.

[stevelyn]

I'm voting for Barr myself. Of course Alaska's 3 puny electoral votes don't mean squat in the big picture and they're likely going to McCain anyway.

So why not vote for someone I actually think represents a large portion of my views? It sends a message to the spineless POS at the RNC and the LP benefits by having the numbers show up in the final tally.

[Regolith]

I wouldn't vote for Barr even if the Libertarian party had a chance in hell.  From what I've read of the guy, he's NOT a Libertarian.

[Manedwolf]

I'm voting for Barr myself. Of course Alaska's 3 puny electoral votes don't mean squat in the big picture and they're likely going to McCain anyway.

So why not vote for someone I actually think represents a large portion of my views? It sends a message to the spineless POS at the RNC and the LP benefits by having the numbers show up in the final tally.

And in a couple of years, I hope you'll put a bumper sticker on your car (if the roads are still drivable most places, that is) that says "THANK ME FOR HELPING OBAMA - I WASTED MY VOTE".

[GigaBuist]

And in a couple of years, I hope you'll put a bumper sticker on your car (if the roads are still drivable most places, that is) that says "THANK ME FOR HELPING OBAMA - I WASTED MY VOTE".

Yeah... like Alaska is going to be the tipping state in this election.

Previous results in the presidential elections for Alaska:

2004:  Republican
2000:  Republican
1996:  Republican
1992:  Republican
1988:  Republican
1984:  Republican
1980:  Republican
1976:  Republican
1972:  Republican
1968:  Republican
1964:  Democrat
1960:  Republican

Yep... quite likely that state's going Democrat this year if he don't vote for McCain.

i read that carefully  barr only gets 43% of libertarians?

Well, yeah.  This election is a bit goofy:

The Libertarians are running a Republican.
The Republicans are running a conservative Democrat.
The Democrats are running vaporware.

[MicroBalrog]

I wouldn't vote for Barr even if the Libertarian party had a chance in hell.  From what I've read of the guy, he's NOT a Libertarian.

Because disagreeing with you on 2-3 issues makes him a communist?

[Sergeant Bob]

 Zogby: Barr McCain Is McCain's Nightmare


I just had to fix that headline....

[ilbob]

Zogby: Barr McCain Is McCain's Nightmare


I just had to fix that headline....

I am beginning to wonder if McCain is even serious about his candidacy. perhaps he is working under the radar. and maybe his philosophy is to wait for the convention.

i am not sure bob barr is as big a threat as zogby makes out.

right now you have obama running against himself and mccain not running at all.

[MechAg94]

I wonder if McCain keeps thinking Obama will screw up enough that people won't vote for him so McCain doesn't need to push too hard.  If Obama were a typical candidate, I think he would be right, but I am not sure if the media and the Obama worshipers will notice. 

[stevelyn]

I'm voting for Barr myself. Of course Alaska's 3 puny electoral votes don't mean squat in the big picture and they're likely going to McCain anyway.

So why not vote for someone I actually think represents a large portion of my views? It sends a message to the spineless POS at the RNC and the LP benefits by having the numbers show up in the final tally.

And in a couple of years, I hope you'll put a bumper sticker on your car (if the roads are still drivable most places, that is) that says "THANK ME FOR HELPING OBAMA - I WASTED MY VOTE".

I have a 4-wheel drive pickup. Pavement is a waste of money IMO.

[Regolith]

I wouldn't vote for Barr even if the Libertarian party had a chance in hell.  From what I've read of the guy, he's NOT a Libertarian.

Because disagreeing with you on 2-3 issues makes him a communist?

Its a bit more than that, and I didn't call him a communist, either.  !(Libertarian) != Communist, if you'll forgive my Java.

[GigaBuist]

Pavement is a waste of money IMO.

Do you work for the Michigan Department of Transportation?

[stevelyn]

Do you work for the Michigan Department of Transportation?

Nope. Just an Alaskan who already lives on a gravel road and perfectly happy doing so.

[nico]

For white voters, race doesn�t appear to be playing a significant factor. McCain leads Obama, 43%-39%, with Barr at 6%. Among black voters, Obama wins the vast majority of support.

Quoted because it bears repeating for anyone who's heard the "if you don't vote for obama you're racist" line. 

[MicroBalrog]

I wouldn't vote for Barr even if the Libertarian party had a chance in hell.  From what I've read of the guy, he's NOT a Libertarian.

Because disagreeing with you on 2-3 issues makes him a communist?

Its a bit more than that, and I didn't call him a communist, either.  !(Libertarian) != Communist, if you'll forgive my Java.

My post has been a parody of the anti-Barr talk on libertarian blogs and forums.