Tuesday, October 28, 2008

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John McCain continues to lead Barack Obama by eight percentage points in Mississippi. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds the Republican ahead 53% to 45%.

McCain held the same lead at the end of September. He held double-digit leads back in August and July, after two months of holding six-point advantages.

Mississippi has cast its six Electoral College votes for the Republican candidate in the last seven presidential elections. In 2004, President Bush easily won the state by a 59% to 40% margin.

McCain’s lead among unaffiliated voters in Mississippi has grown even larger this month: It's now 70% to 17%, compared to 55% to 34% in September. While men in the state steadily support the Republican, women continue to move more towards the Democrat.

McCain holds a dominant lead among white voters, while Obama earns the support of nearly all black voters in the state.

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Voters in Mississippi think McCain will carry their state by a 67% to 28% margin.

Rasmussen Markets data shows that McCain is given a % chance of carrying Mississippi in November. The state is classified as “Likely Republican” by the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article.

McCain is viewed favorably by 58% of voters in Mississippi, down from 62% last month. He is viewed unfavorably by 41%, up from 35% in September. Obama’s ratings are 48% favorable, 51% unfavorable. His numbers are identical to those in the last poll.

Most voters in Mississippi believe elections are generally fair to voters, though 33% disagree. Still, 87% are at least somewhat confident their votes will be counted, compared to just 13% who are not confident.

Half of voters (50%) say it is more likely that people will vote illegally next Tuesday, but 37% say it is more likely that legally eligible individuals will be denied the right to cast their ballots. There is a sharp racial and partisan divide when it comes to this question. While the majority of Republicans and unaffiliated voters fear ineligible individuals will be granted a vote, most Democrats say the opposite. Most whites say it is more likely illegal voters will vote, but the overwhelming majority of blacks say legal voters will be turned away from the polls.

Mississippi voters trust McCain more than Obama on the economy by a 52% to 44% margin, and 46% disagree with Obama’s statement that it is better to spread the wealth around. However, 41% of voters agree with that view.

President Bush earns good or excellent ratings from 42% of voters in Mississippi, while 46% give his job performance a poor rating.

The latest poll of the special U.S. Senate race in the state finds appointed Senator Roger Wicker leading Ronny Musgrove by double-digits.

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