I am curious. Did Obama have a good edge over Ryan before this story?

[coloradodem2005]

An article I am reading suggest that he did.

http://cbs2chicago.com/illinois/IL--SenateRace-in/resources_news_html

[eyesroll]

1. He did.

It's going to get bigger, really quickly...

[LittleApple81]

2. They said he did. And in the article on the New Yorker about him,

he sounds like somebody who can attract votes from the entire spectrum.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. As I recall, it shrank to 8 points about 3 weeks ago, but that was a blip

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Yes he did.

A Harstad Strategic Research (D) poll obtained by Hotline; conducted 3/25-31 for state Sen. Barack Obama (D); surveyed 806 likely voters; margin of error +/- 3.5% (Hotline sources, 4/8). Tested: Obama and teacher/ex-investment banker Jack Ryan (R).

General Election Matchup

Obama Vote 52% Fav/Unfav 45/9% 73%ID

Ryan Vote 33% Fav/Unfav 31 /20% 84%ID

Undecided 14%

Wilson Research Strategies Released 5/04-5/05.
Obama 44%
Ryan 28%
Undecided 18%

Southtown
Released May 18th
Obama 48
Ryan 40
+/- 4.5
Sample Size 500
Automated phone call poll
95% confidence interval


And Today's Trib:

Obama 52 %
Ryan 30

It's always bad to have your opponent over 50 because it means you have to take voters away. Right now, Ryan doesn't appear to even have his base cemented and more numbers in the article point out his problems.

http://www.archpundit.com/archives/009550.html

[madrchsod]

5. it would have been close

but now i think alot of the real conservative repubs won`t vote for him. he wasn`t that strong in northern il with more people voting against him in many areas than for him. it will be interesting how those voters will feel about keeping jack because it`s pretty dam conservative out here in the corn and bean fields. obama will still lose out here mainly because most people have no idea who he is. if obama would make an effort to come out here you may be able to pick up alot of votes,but so far this part of the state doesn`t seem to interest his people...

[never cry wolf]

10. He'll get out there

This is a senatorial campaign, not a presidential and we are still over 4 months away. Neither one has started to campaign in earnest yet. Obama isn't going to neglect the rural areas.

[Robbien]

6. He was favored up here in the Near North suburbs

It is heavily republican here, but Obama is generally talked about as a good choice.

[Bake]

7. What is the proper pronunciation of his NAME???

Is it pronounced like Ala-bama? Or some other way?

Bake

[markdd]

8. I would have said O-Bama

eom

[Padraig18]

9. Oh- BAH-muh

:)