New polls show Obama and McCain tied everywhere (almost)

Nevada

It can't get any tighter in Nevada. A Suffolk University poll released this morning shows McCain leading Obama with the slightest of edges: 45.8 percent to 45.3 percent.

This poll was able to capture the full impact of last week as it was conducted from September 17 - 21. Who's to blame for the financial meltdown? The GOP, say Nevada voters.

The recent Wall Street turmoil has not helped matters for the Republican Party. When likely voters were asked which political party -- if any -- deserved blame for the roiling economy, 41 percent blamed the Republicans; 16 percent blamed Democrats; 27 percent said neither; and 16 percent were undecided.

What about other issues like gender and race?

Women

Politico is reporting this morning that a new Lifetime poll asking women "which candidate has a better understanding of women and what's important to them," John McCain has made up the huge deficit he once had. Down 34 points before the selection of running mate Sarah Palin, McCain has all put made this a tie, now up 44-42 percent.

Of likely women voters, however, they note Gallup's last weekly poll which shows Obama leading among likely women voters 48 - 44 percent.

Race

Anyone who thought American voters had moved past selecting a candidate based on race will be disappointed in hearing news from an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll conducted last week.

The poll, which surveyed more than 2,200 people, shows how differently whites and blacks view racial discrimination.

When asked "how much discrimination against blacks" exists, 10 percent of whites said "a lot" and 45 percent said "some." Among blacks, 57 percent said "a lot" and all but a fraction of the rest said "some."

Bottom line? Discrimination could be a big factor in determining the November outcome.

"Racial prejudice could cost Obama up to 6 percentage points this fall," the AP reports. "That's a big hurdle in a nation whose last two presidential elections were decided by much smaller margins."

Vote early and vote often

If all this talk of the election makes you want to go out and vote now - you can. At least in some places. Some counties in Virginia and Kentucky began accepting absentee ballots last Friday.

While in Georgia, it's "anything goes." Starting today, you don't even need a reason to vote early. You can just show up at your county election office and cast your vote.

A full 34 states will be offering some kind of early voting method before the election.

We project...

So is it really that far out of the question to imagine Wolf Blitzer today stating, "Based on the seven absentee votes mailed in today from Kentucky, CNN is projecting..."

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