Repeating a pattern seen across the country, John McCain has gained ground on Barack Obama in Oregon. In August, before the running mates were selected and the conventions held, the Democrat enjoyed a ten-point lead in this traditionally “Blue” state. Now, however, McCain has pulled to within four points with results that are virtually identical to the actual Oregon vote in Election 2004.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Oregon voters shows Obama attracting 51% of the vote while McCain earns 47% (see crosstabs). This is the seventh Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Oregon for Election 2008, and it’s the closest that McCain has ever been. Four times, Obama has enjoyed an eight-to-10 point lead, and once he was up by 14.
As in other states, Obama leads among women but trails among men. The Democratic nominee leads among voters under 40 while McCain leads among older voters.
Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Obama voters say they’re voting with enthusiasm for him while just 18% are primarily voting against McCain.
Only 66% of McCain’s voters are voting with enthusiasm for him, while 30% are primarily voting against Obama.
Obama is now viewed favorably by 58% of Oregon voters, McCain by 56%. Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden, is viewed favorably by 54% while the Republican Vice Presidential nominee—Sarah Palin—earns positive reviews from 52%.
Forty-eight percent (48%) say that McCain made the right decision in selecting his running mate while 44% say the same about Obama.
Eighty-three percent (83%) view Palin as politically conservative while 53% see Biden as politically liberal.
Nationally, the race remains close in both the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and the Electoral College projections. Just 23% of voters say that this year’s campaign is more negative than most and all four candidates get relatively high marks for ethics.
See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.
This telephone survey of 700 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on September 15, 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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Oregon Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
10/30/2008 |
42% |
54% |
|
41% |
54% |
|
|
43% |
54% |
|
|
47% |
51% |
|
|
37% |
47% |
|
|
37% |
46% |
|
|
06/11/2008 |
38% |
46% |
|
38% |
52% |
|
|
42% |
48% |
|
|
40% |
49% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in Oregon |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
27% |
43% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
28% |
15% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
24% |
10% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
20% |
29% |
|
Not Sure |
2% |
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.
