Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, who served in Congress as part of Georgia�s Congressional delegation, picks up 3% of the vote initially. But when asked a follow-up question only 1% remain committed to the man some view as a potential spoiler for McCain�s hopes. While both McCain and Obama earn roughly equal support from their own parties, McCain has a thirteen percentage point advantage among unaffiliated voters. McCain leads by twenty among men while the candidates are roughly even among women.
McCain is viewed favorably by 58% of Georgia�s voters and unfavorably by 39%. Obama�s ratings are 50% favorable, 46% unfavorable. Men: Obama 30, McCain 50. Women: Obama 46, McCain 38. John McCain continues to enjoy a solid lead over Barack Obama in Georgia. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the state shows McCain attracting 48% of the vote while Obama earns 39%. When leaners are included, McCain�s lead expands to eleven percentage points, 53% to 42%. These figures show little change in the race since late June.
In fact, this race has changed little all year. McCain has led by eight to fourteen points in each of the four previous surveys conducted by Rasmussen Reports in Georgia this year.
Libertarian candidate Bob Barr who served in Congress as part of Georgia�s Congressional delegation picks up 5% of the vote initially, but only 1% when �leaners� are included. This means that up to 5% of voters now say they would vote for Barr but when asked a follow-up question only 1% remain committed to the man some view as a potential spoiler for McCain�s hopes. Analysis: Georgia, which has one of the highest African-American voting age populations in the nation along with an unusually young voter age population, remains the hidden battleground of the 2008 campaign. The Obama campaign is saturating television in the state, clearly believing that the 15 electoral votes in Georgia are up for grabs. It�s a credit to John McCain�s personal favorable ratings in the state (which are high) that he has continued to cling to this lead despite having little media presence. The deal breaker could be former United States Senator Sam Nunn, who left the Senate in the mid-1990s. Nunn, known as a top expert of foreign policy, has relatively low name identification in his home state after eleven years out of direct political circulation. But should he receive the nomination, Nunn would almost immediately become known in his home state as a former senator and the survey shows that with such knowledge, a majority of Georgians say they are more likely to vote for Obama. However, that does not equate to a vote for Obama. To determine the actual impact on the vote, one would need a direct comparison. Some suggest, with Florida looking more likely to go McCain, a Barack-Obama/Sam Nunn vs. John McCain/Sonny Perdue survey. Perdue had been mentioned as a potential VP nominee earlier in the year. Perhaps Nunn and Perdue are back on the radar screens.
Southern Political Report In a general election match-up for President, Republican Senator John McCain led Democrat Senator Barack Obama 51% to 43% with Libertarian Bob Barr at 3% and 3% undecided.
�This match-up is polarized among racial lines,� said Johnson. �Barr does not seem to be making the inroads among Republicans that he is hoping for.� . . . . .
