New polls show Obama and McCain tied everywhere (almost)

If the economy is your top issue, Florida voters believe Obama can better deal with it by a 49 - 40 percent margin.

Who gets to wear the "change" banner? Obama. Those polled believe Obama has a better chance of "changing how Washington works."

The poll had an essay portion in it as well. Judging from the reactions, all polls should include these.

The poll asked voters an open-ended question: Describe the first thing that springs to mind when the vice presidential candidates' names are mentioned. Palin elicited responses from ''refreshing change'' to ''Oh, my God, help us.'' Biden elicited responses from ''man of experience'' to ``blowhard.''

Ohio

The Ohio Newspaper poll -- conducted by the eight largest newspapers in the Buckeye state -- shows John McCain with a 48 to 42 percent edge, The poll was conducted from September 12 - 16, so as with the Miami Herald poll the financial crisis was not fully baked in.

A full 19 percent of those polled said it's still early and they may change their minds about who they will be supporting.

Iowa

All the talk about Iowa being up-in-the-air? Fuhgedaboudit. That's the conclusion of a new poll of 600 voters in Iowa. According to Quad City Times, the Democratic nominee has a commanding 14 point lead, 53 percent to 39 percent.

Is the Obama campaign celebrating the lead? Far from it. They're still in attack mode.

“Regardless of what the polls say, we know the McCain campaign is capable of harsh, false attacks which can distract from the important issues, which is why we are taking absolutely nothing for granted,” said Obama's Iowa director.

Minnesota

A new Big Ten Battleground Poll shows Obama with a slight edge, 47 percent to 45 percent. This poll, too, was taken before the full impact of last week on Wall Street was realized (September 14 - 17). It gives Obama a slight lead, 47-45 percent.

The normally reliable blue state right now is on the bubble. One notable takeaway from the poll is the difference in the unfavorability rating. Obama's unfavorable rank is a full nine points higher than McCain's, 48 percent to 39 percent.

When discussing the survey, a pollster affiliated with the project could have easily been talking about the college football season.

“We all expected this to be tight — it’s extraordinarily tight,” the pollster said. “What it’s really going to come down to is the next president is going to be the one to win the Big Ten.”

New Hampshire

Both candidates are spending time in this-now "purple" state. Once a solid red state, it has moderated to the center. President Bush won the state in 2000. Senator Kerry brought it to the Democratic fold in 2004.

RealClearPolitics has it going Obama by a 48 percent to 44.7 percent margin. But like any other state too close to call, the numbers can keep fluctuating. The battleground within New Hampshire, according to Reuters, is Manchester.

"[The] director of the University of New Hampshire's Survey Center expects the race to boil down to blue-collar voters in Manchester, a former New England textile city of 107,200 people. "Whoever wins Manchester probably wins the election in the state," said the director.

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