Wall Street Maelstrom Impacts Electorate

Three-quarters say Nation on wrong track

Wall Street’s maelstrom appears to have shifted the electorate toward Obama and away from Congressional Democrats according to a Rasmussen Poll released Saturday morning. Obama-Biden now leads McCain-Palin 48%-47% for first time since the GOP convention. Obama now leads in states with 193 Electoral College votes while McCain is ahead in states with 189 Electoral College votes. When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 259, McCain 247. Four states continue to be toss-ups including: New Mexico (5); Colorado (9); Nevada (5) and Virginia (13) - all went Republican in 2004. 270 Electoral votes are needed to win the White House.

Confidence in Congress sags with 44% of voters choosing their district’s Democratic candidate, while 38% would choose the Republican candidate.

One month ago the Congressional margin was 47% to 34% in favor of the Democrat candidate. The once almost certain Democrat surge in both the Senate and House has been cut to the point where achieving a veto proof maJority is statistically erased.

The parties are neck-and-neck among unaffiliated voters, with the Democrats earning support from 33% and the GOP from 31%. Among men, the GOP has a 43% to 40% advantage. Among women, the Democrats lead 48% to 34%.

Democrats have a 63% to 19% lead among voters who characterize themselves as pro-choice on the issue of abortion, while Republicans lead 64% to 21% among voters who are pro-life.

The GOP leads 47% to 38% among voters who shop at Wal-Mart several times a month, while the Democrats lead 56% to 27% among those who rarely or never shop there. The parties are nearly tied among voters who occasionally shop at the super store. In part that’s because Wal-Mart stores tend to be located in more exurban areas where Republicans cluster.

Rasmussen Reports tracking data also shows just 23% of voters believe the nation is heading in the right direction, while 73% think the country has gotten off on the wrong track.