New poll puts Obama farther ahead of McCain

[0:07] ..." the most important thing is a shift in the issue landscape. When John McCain started this campaign in September of 2007. 36% of Americans said Iraq was the most important issue and only 12% said the"...

[0:52] ..." problems. By 28%. They favored Obama and this is largely out of John McCain's control them. The enormous. Bad news in the economy plus. The plunge in George Bush's numbers he's unfavorable rating is 73%. The highest in history. That's an awfully heavyweight for John McCain to be carrying on his back in this campaign. And it. Foreign policy is still where John McCain would like to to keep the ball right now but it would seem that Obama is making inroads in that area as well. He has because there's just a general. I think growing. Comfort level. -- if Barack Obama. He has not answered all the questions. That Hillary Clinton raised in the primaries there are still a lot of Americans were uneasy with Barack Obama. And rightly so he's a newcomer to the scene he's very his Reza may even his supporters have to admit his very thin. But commonly asked. Who is the riskier. Candidates. For many months. Americans said that Barack Obama was the riskier choice. Today they actually say that McCain is the riskier choice so Obama over the last few months has. Eased some of the concerns and relieve some of the anxieties. That some Americans have particularly Democrats who voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary. They're coming around steadily to Obama's so he's done a pretty good job. In convincing those people and at"...

[3:21] ..." worked according to our polls in fact people are starting to blame John McCain for being too negative they don't like that tone of the campaign. An and McCain just is caught in a bind because them. If this issue is fought on the economy he's almost certain to lose but as he tries to undermine. Confidence in Obama. He's accused of being negative and Alitalia over the last weekend when some of the most vicious and vitriolic. Sentiment started spewing out from out some of his supporters to rallies kill him and calling Obama traitor. John McCain's credit I think he tried to to stem some of that tied -- Viciousness and he took the microphone back from one woman who. Said that Obama was an Arab and he said no he's a decent person need to honorable person you should not be frightened of him as president. I've known John McCain along -- he is not a hater. And look this is a man who led the reconciliation. With Vietnam in the country"...

[4:49] ..." and the answer is. There's almost no clear path towards victory for John McCain this morning. No he does have one more face to face with a bomb on Wednesday night what. Does he need to"...

[5:35] ..." go to cocktail parties and not part of the elite. Then there's John McCain bragging it has one of his debates that he's known Henry Kissinger for 35 years there's been this. Mixed message at the very center. Of the McCain campaign were the outsiders and the insiders were in the newcomers and with the old hands John McCain in the last of the debate in this final words he said -- been at this a long long time. How does"...

[0:00]" What in particular Steve sparks your interest about les -- fox. Well course Obama ahead by ten points but the most important thing is a shift in the issue landscape. When John McCain started this campaign in September of 2007. 36% of Americans said Iraq was the most important issue and only 12% said the economy. This morning 55%. Say the economy only 6% say Iraq. That's an enormous shift and shifted heavily favors the Democrats. And diminishes. McCain whose campaign was premised. On the importance of Iraq and terrorism and portraying himself as the best commander in chief. And within the -- Folks generally prefer Obama by sixteen points to handle the economy -- when we asked. Who is the best to deal with the middle class who sympathetic to the middle class of problems. By 28%. They favored Obama and this is largely out of John McCain's control them. The enormous. Bad news in the economy plus. The plunge in George Bush's numbers he's unfavorable rating is 73%. The highest in history. That's an awfully heavyweight for John McCain to be carrying on his back in this campaign. And it. Foreign policy is still where John McCain would like to to keep the ball right now but it would seem that Obama is making inroads in that area as well. He has because there's just a general. I think growing. Comfort level. -- if Barack Obama. He has not answered all the questions. That Hillary Clinton raised in the primaries there are still a lot of Americans were uneasy with Barack Obama. And rightly so he's a newcomer to the scene he's very his Reza may even his supporters have to admit his very thin. But commonly asked. Who is the riskier. Candidates. For many months. Americans said that Barack Obama was the riskier choice. Today they actually say that McCain is the riskier choice so Obama over the last few months has. Eased some of the concerns and relieve some of the anxieties. That some Americans have particularly Democrats who voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary. They're coming around steadily to Obama's so he's done a pretty good job. In convincing those people and at least he passes the basic threshold. Of credibility and comfort to be president."

[3:04]" That line. Very it's very difficult you're absolutely right because and his campaign has tried to undermine. Confidence. In Obama's character and his judgment because the economic landscape has been so. Heavily against them. But it hasn't worked according to our polls in fact people are starting to blame John McCain for being too negative they don't like that tone of the campaign. An and McCain just is caught in a bind because them. If this issue is fought on the economy he's almost certain to lose but as he tries to undermine. Confidence in Obama. He's accused of being negative and Alitalia over the last weekend when some of the most vicious and vitriolic. Sentiment started spewing out from out some of his supporters to rallies kill him and calling Obama traitor. John McCain's credit I think he tried to to stem some of that tied -- Viciousness and he took the microphone back from one woman who. Said that Obama was an Arab and he said no he's a decent person need to honorable person you should not be frightened of him as president. I've known John McCain along -- he is not a hater. And look this is a man who led the reconciliation. With Vietnam in the country that almost killed him. And I think he's very uncomfortable with the tone. That some of his supporters are using I think he has decided win or lose. He does not want to get down in history as someone who has presided over such a vicious campaign. And so I think he -- Strongly and and and and terribly. To trying to dampen down some of them the anger but on the other hand. Than you say well how's he going to win this election and the answer is. There's almost no clear path towards victory for John McCain this morning. No he does have one more face to face with a bomb on Wednesday night what. Does he need to do to try to turn things around a little bit there. Well and it's hard to see -- can do right I do think he has to try to convince people that in this crisis. The more experience. More seasoned. A person is the safer choice. Part of his problem in doing that as he's been sending this mixed messages from week -- got Sarah Palin out there attacking Washington attacking experience. You know bragging that she's an outsider bragging that she doesn't know anybody in Georgetown and doesn't go to cocktail parties and not part of the elite. Then there's John McCain bragging it has one of his debates that he's known Henry Kissinger for 35 years there's been this. Mixed message at the very center. Of the McCain campaign were the outsiders and the insiders were in the newcomers and with the old hands John McCain in the last of the debate in this final words he said -- been at this a long long time. How does that square with the message that you know where the mavericks from outside it says is Kalin keeps talking about I think if he's going to have an answer. He's got to say to the American people look this is a crisis I can be the commander in chief not just to the military but of the economy. And that when it comes down to it. This is going to be -- very very rough couple years and you want someone. Who's been around a long time knows what he's doing knows world leaders and can immediately. And jump into this job from day one I don't think it's he has much of a chance of of this argument working but I think it's the one thing the -- he can possibly do that might work."