Here's the key reason McCain has resorted to nothing but gutter politics and personal attacks: If he sticks to the issues, he can't win. In fact, if voters are focused on the issues, McCain gets absolutely clobbered. Here are some of the key ones:

Economy/Taxes
---------------

"Would you say the country is better off because of George W. Bush's economic policies than when he became president almost eight years ago, or worse off, or is the country about the same as it was then?"

Better: 9%
Worse: 75%
Same: 12%

McCain essentially endorses Bush's economic policies (helped him get the Republican nomination).

Strong advantage: Obama

"As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their fair share in federal taxes, paying too much, or paying too little. How about [see below]?"

Low-income people:

Fair share: 32%
Too much: 51%
Too little: 13%

Upper-income people:

Fair share: 24%
Too much: 9%
Too little: 63%

Corporations:

Fair share: 15%
Too much: 6%
Too little: 73%

McCain supports expensive tax cuts mainly for the wealthy (entirely unpaid for I might add). Obama supports tax cuts on the working/middle class financed in part by rolling back tax cuts on the wealthy.

Strong advantage: Obama

"Which political party -- the Democrats or the Republicans -- do you trust to do a better job handling [see below]?"

Federal budget deficit:
---------------------

Democrats: 52%
Republicans: 31%

Clearly Republican policies have ballooned the deficit. McCain plans on continuing such policies.

Advantage: Obama

http://www.pollingreport.com/budget.htm

Energy
------

"How do you feel about increased drilling for oil and natural gas offshore in U.S. waters? Do you strongly favor, mildly favor, mildly oppose or strongly oppose increased offshore drilling?" N=527, MoE

Favor: 69%
Oppose: 30%

McCain has done a 180 on this issue from 2 months ago after seeing the polls. Obama is against offshore drilling but has expressed willingness to compromise if part of a much broader energy legislation that includes aggressive incentives for renewable energy. The issue has been emphasized by the media excessively, portrayed as a false dichotomy between some environmental costs and lowering gas prices (a false assumption) which has helped to shape public views. It's interesting how the media focuses so heavily on the drilling issue, as it's one of the few that favors McCain among voters.

Advantage: McCain

Or is it?

Voters in Ohio:

22. Which is the best way to help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil - A) building new nuclear power plants, B) drilling offshore and in Alaska, C) developing renewable energy sources like solar power, wind power and biofuels, D) releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or E) mandating higher mileage standards for cars?

Nuclear: 7%
Drilling: 20%
Renewable energy: 57%
Strategic reserve: 7%
High mileage cars: 7%

Obama most aggressively supports renewable energy and increased CAFE standards (McCain didn't show up for that vote). McCain most aggressively supports drilling and nuclear energy. This shows that while Americans favor drilling, they don't see it as top priority or solution by any stretch, despite the far right drumbeat on the issue.

Advantage: Obama

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2882.xml?ReleaseID=1196
http://www.pollingreport.com/energy.htm

Abortion
--------

"Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?"

Usually or always legal: 57%
Usually illegal or always illegal: 42%

"In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion?"

Agree: 63%
Disagree: 33%

McCain is generally pro-life while Obama generally pro-choice. McCain has at times expressed desire to overturn R v W (although has been wishy-washy on the subject).

Advantage: Obama

http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm

Healthcare
----------

"Which of these do you think is more important: providing health care coverage for all Americans, even if it means raising taxes, OR, holding down taxes, even if it means some Americans do not have health care coverage?"

Coverage for all: 66%

Holding down taxes: 31%

http://www.pollingreport.com/health3.htm

Foreign policy
-------------

Iraq:

"In view of the developments since we first sent our troops to Iraq, do you think the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq, or not?"

Mistake: 56%
Not a mistake: 40%

Judgment on this issue is very important.

Strong advantage: Obama

"Which comes closer to your view about U.S. troops in Iraq? The U.S. should set a timetable for withdrawal by announcing that it will remove all of its troops from Iraq by a certain date. The U.S. should keep troops in Iraq as long as necessary without setting any timetable for withdrawal."

Timetable: 62%
No timetable: 37%

Strong advantage: Obama

Americans view Afghanistan as more important than Iraq as far as national security goes:

"Do you think the United States must win the war in Iraq in order for the broader war on terrorism to be a success, or do you think the war on terrorism can be a success without the United States winning the war in Iraq?"

Must win war in Iraq: 34%
Does not require Iraq victory: 60%.

Since McCain is obsessed with Iraq and still clings to the "Iraq part of the war on terror" nonsense, he appears out of touch again on the issue.

Advantage: Obama

"Would you favor or oppose a plan to reduce the number of U.S. combat troops from Iraq and increase the number of U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan?"

Favor: 56%
Oppose: 42%

Obama has supported this for a long time. McCain won't commit any troops from Iraq and only recently supported sending more to Afghanistan (in part because the Iraq escalation has tied up resources in Iraq).

Advantage: Obama

http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

Iran:

"Turning now to Iran -- What do you think the United States should do to get Iran to shut down its nuclear program: take military action against Iran, or rely mainly on economic and diplomatic efforts?" Options rotated

Military action: 18%
Economic/diplomatic efforts: 73%

McCain has partially started the war drumbeat on Iran. Obama favors diplomacy.

Advantage: Obama

http://www.pollingreport.com/iran.htm

__________________
"You have shown what history teaches us - that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington."

- Barack Obama, 8/28/08

Obama is way ahead in eledtoral votes. That is a good thing. The races tightens. The conventions and 3 debates will finish this thing.

__________________
ACCEPTANCE IS THE ANSWER!

We will knock on the door, if it does not open, we will revolt for our rights.

Im a Tarte, what! you want some of this?