National Poll: Obama By 9

A new Washington Post/ABC News Poll released this morning shows Barack Obama surging past John McCain to a 52-43 point lead nationally.  McCain's convention bounce gave him a two point lead two weeks ago, but that lead has now been erased as voters fear a worsening economy and the ongoing catastrophe on Wall Street.  

Highlights from the poll. View full polling data (pdf)

Obama leads 52-39 on the economy

Independents prefer Obama by 21 points on issues related to the economy

9% rate the economy as "good" or "excellent"


14% of voters believe the nation is heading in the right direction  (ties record low in 1973)


60% are worried about their own family finances


43% of independent women view Palin favorably compared to 65% last month (-22%)


62% of Obama supporters are "very enthusiastic" compared to just 34% for John McCain who feel the same way about his candidacy.

Drill, Baby, Drill!

This is from R.J. Matson, political cartoonist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the New York Observer and Roll Call.

Kay Hagan Statement On Market Meltdown

North Carolina US Senate candidate, Kay Hagan, on recent events surrounding the crash on Wall Street. 

“This is what a Republican-run, special interest-based economy looks like. Oversight and accountability were shelved for padded profits and inflated investments. The Bush-Dole team ignored the warning signs as the housing bubble grew, refusing to establish even basic rules of the road for big financial players. The trickle-down theory of special interests first, working families second has clearly not paid off, and I would argue that it has actually backfired. We need people in Washington who understand that the time for allowing the special interests to ignore – and in some cases, write – the rules of the game is over."