For the first time all year, John McCain has topped Barack Obama in a New Mexico poll. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows McCain attracting 49% of the vote while Obama earns 47%.
Although the two-point lead is not statistically significant in a poll with a four-point margin of sampling error, it’s quite an improvement for McCain from August. At that time, Obama was ahead 48% to 44% (with leaners included). Since then, the Republican has gained ground among Hispanic voters and those not affiliated with either major party.
Currently, Obama is viewed favorably by 55% of New Mexico voters, down a point from a month ago. That figure includes 40% with a Very Favorable opinion of Obama.
McCain gets a favorable rating from 52%. That’s down from 56% a month ago, but the number with a Very Favorable opinion of him is up eight percentage points to 30%.
As for the vice presidential candidates, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden is viewed favorably by 52% and Sarah Palin by 51%. As in every other state polled since the conventions ended, Palin earns Very Favorable reviews from more voters than any other candidate. In New Mexico, 41% offer such an upbeat assessment of the Alaska governor. Twenty-six percent (26%) have a Very Favorable opinion of Biden.
Forty-eight percent (48%) say McCain made the right choice for his running mate and 37% say the same about Obama’s selection. Among Republicans, 89% say Palin was the right choice for McCain. Among Democrats, 61% say Biden was the right choice.
Fifty-one percent (51%) of New Mexico voters view Biden as politically liberal while 82% say Palin is politically conservative.
Democrat Tom Udall leads Republican Steve Pearce in New Mexico’s U.S. Senate race.
While President Bush carried New Mexico four years ago, just 36% now say he is doing a good or excellent job. Fifty-three percent (53%) say he is doing a poor job.
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This telephone survey of 700 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports September 8, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
See Methodology.
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New Mexico Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
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|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
10/28/2008 |
44% |
54% |
|
42% |
55% |
|
|
44% |
49% |
|
|
49% |
47% |
|
|
41% |
47% |
|
|
41% |
46% |
|
|
39% |
47% |
|
|
41% |
50% |
|
|
42% |
45% |
|
|
44% |
44% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in New Mexico |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
31% |
46% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
18% |
11% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
18% |
9% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
32% |
33% |
|
Not Sure |
1% |
2% |
|
Rasmussen Reports - Electoral College Balance of Power Summary |
|
|---|---|
|
160 |
|
|
260 |
|
|
118 |
|
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
