How relevant are polls regarding the General Election match-ups right now?

[hedgehog]

The polls I've seen currently show either Obama v McCain or Clinton v McCain at 50/50 or too close to call. I would suggest we have the equivalent of the name recognition polls from last AUgust that showed Clinton the overwhelming favorite. Once more people find out about McCain's support of the war and his notion that the economy would be fine if we had more deregulation, I think we could run the donkey and beat him!

[movonne]

1. The only way she could get it is either destroy Obama or steal it...I.

do not like hillary for the things she has done in this primary..

[crankychatter]

2. only polls that favor my candidate are unbiased

all the others are skewed

[Lucinda]

3. I don't think they are important right now either.

It's just giving the talking heads something to go on about.

[XemaSab]

4. Totally irrelevant

McCain and Obama haven't even started with each other.

Obama and Hillary have similar policies, which is part of why this election is so sticky right now.

Obama and McCain are VERY VERY different, and I think once we move out of the primary into the GE we're going to see some real shifts between now and 7 months from now.

[Perky]

5. utterly meaninfless

The first meaningful poll is the state by state polls that come out the secnd week in September

Everythin up until that point is worthless.

[Tribetime]

6. I think once it's one on one

Obama will jump ahead quickly. I think that shallow as it sounds, some people vote largely on appearance. Just by looking so much more energetic than McCain, will give him a boost.

[SoonerPride]

7. Zip

zero

[Alexander]

8. Ask President Dukakis.

[johnnydrama]

9. totally worthless

Both Obama people and Clinton people are saying McCain because it makes the other candidate look bad.

[RC]

10. Ever notice the important elections always are within a point or two of 50/50 since

2000? I have. The powers that be are trying to set us up for another stolen election. If the article says something about too close to call or 48/52 or closer I assume bull shit and usually quit reading.

On edit: Obama and Hillery are not really that close unless one is comparing to bu$h or something.

[MADem]

11. At this time four years ago, it was KERRY by a MILE!!!!!!

Well, at least around these parts. In reality, it was neck and neck, but Kerry was trending upward and Bush's approval ratings were in the shits. Of course, there were morons like Chuck Todd, with this gem:

A Kerry Landslide? http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0405.todd.html

But there's another possibility, one only now being floated by a few political operatives: 2004 could be a decisive victory for Kerry. The reason to think so is historical. Elections that feature a sitting president tend to be referendums on the incumbent--and in recent elections, the incumbent has either won or lost by large electoral margins. If you look at key indicators beyond the neck-and-neck support for the two candidates in the polls--such as high turnout in the early Democratic primaries and the likelihood of a high turnout in November--it seems improbable that Bush will win big. More likely, it's going to be Kerry in a rout.


http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=826
Released: May 16, 2004
Bush's Job Approval Drops to Record Low 42%; Kerry Up By 5 Points Over Bush 47%-42%; Iraq Disapproval Rate Rises to 64%; Majority Says US Headed in the Wrong Direction and "It's Time for Someone New" New Zogby International Poll Reveals