According to the polls, the Republicans got a really nice bounce after their convention.
In spite of the convention being cut short and losing a day to Hurricane Gustav, they managed to pull ahead of the Democrats.
I guess this shows you don't need a massive event at Invesco Field, a free concert, an elaborate set, fireworks, and all that celebrity and lib media-driven hype to win over voters.
WASHINGTON -- The Republican National Convention has given John McCain and his party a significant boost, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken over the weekend shows, as running mate Sarah Palin helps close an "enthusiasm gap" that has dogged the GOP all year.
McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama by 50%-46% among registered voters, the Republican's biggest advantage since January and a turnaround from the USA TODAY poll taken just before the convention opened in St. Paul. Then, he lagged by 7 percentage points.
The convention bounce has helped not only McCain but also attitudes toward Republican congressional candidates and the GOP in general.
"The Republicans had a very successful convention and, at least initially, the selection of Sarah Palin has made a big difference," says political scientist Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia. "He's in a far better position than his people imagined he would be in at this point."
...In the new poll, taken Friday through Sunday, McCain leads Obama by 54%-44% among those seen as most likely to vote. The survey of 1,022 adults, including 959 registered voters, has a margin of error of +/— 3 points for both samples.
That's a huge post-convention bounce.
I think some of the other findings in the poll are of even greater significance to John McCain's chances for victory in November.
• Before the convention, Republicans by 47%-39% were less enthusiastic than usual about voting. Now, they are more enthusiastic by 60%-24%, a sweeping change that narrows a key Democratic advantage. Democrats report being more enthusiastic by 67%-19%.
• Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a national unknown before McCain chose her for the ticket 10 days ago, draws a strong reaction from voters on both sides. Now, 29% say she makes them more likely to vote for McCain, 21% less likely.
Obama's choice of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as running mate made 14% more likely to vote for the Democrat, 7% less likely.
Bridging that enthusiasm gap is tremendously important for the Republicans.
The coronation of Barack Obama doesn't seem predestined anymore.
That's good news and bad news.
I fear an increase in the derangement syndrome that has already plagued some Democrats for years.
These poll numbers can only make the manifestation of the syndrome's symptoms worse and more widespread.
I'm also concerned that voter fraud efforts to undermine the integrity of the election might be stepped up, especially in the fertile fraud haven of battleground Wisconsin.
Election 2008 took such an ugly, personal turn after the announcement of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate.
I had hoped we had hit bottom as far as that goes.
That was naive.
It's going to get worse because it's clear now that McCain can win the election. The entire dynamic has changed. Republican morale is way up.
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