Presidential Polls in North Dakota
North Dakota: A Forgotten State for Presidential Candidates John McCain and Barack Obama
With only two months left until votes are cast, recent presidential poll numbers suggest North Dakota voters are leaning toward the Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin. However, Wikipedia's presidential poll information reports McCain may have some competition from the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in the typically republican state of North Dakota.
Although the numerical data on the presidential poll in North Dakota isn't complete on Pollster.com, the graphic depiction shows a narrowing gap between McCain and Obama.
According to RealClearPolitics.com's electoral map, North Dakota, with its three electoral votes, is just one of five states shown which may vote for McCain in November.
Historically, North Dakota has only voted for the Democratic presidential candidate four times since 1892. If North Dakota tips the other way and casts its three electoral votes for Obama, it will be the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson that North Dakota has voted for a Democratic presidential candidate. However, some presidential polls suggest it may happen in 2008.
What are John McCain and Barack Obama doing in North Dakota to win my vote?
As far as I am aware, neither John McCain nor Barack Obama have been doing any presidential campaigning in North Dakota, with the exception of some national commercial campaigns, according to the WashingtonPost.com. Since I rarely watch television, these commercials haven't swayed my decision in the slightest.
McCain and Obama have bigger states with more electoral voting power to worry about. Although the presidential race may be close in North Dakota this year, it is impractical for either presidential candidate to spend time swaying the votes in North Dakota.
Do the North Dakota presidential poll numbers reflect my position as a voter?
Because there aren't any definite presidential poll numbers for North Dakota, the numbers don't reflect my voting decision at all. However, I would say that anyway, regardless of what the specific numbers were. I am a Democrat in a largely Republican state.
Although, since the presidential race may be a competitive one this year in North Dakota, the presidential poll numbers have affected my voting attitude. In the past, it has always felt like I was throwing away my vote each election. This year, for the first time, I feel my vote could make a difference.
Sources:
"2008 North Dakota Presidential General Election: McCain vs Obama", Pollster.com
http://www.pollster.com/polls/nd/08-nd-pres-ge-mvo.php
"RealClearPolitics Electoral College", RealClearPolitics.com
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=5
"United States presidential election, 2008", Wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008
"North Dakota Presidential Election", WashingtonPost.com
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/elections/nd/president/
Published by Heather K. Adams
Heather K. Adams is an award-winning journalist with the North Dakota Newspaper Association. While she can write on many topics, she specializes in personalized national and state news reports, music, and pa... View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentJinny, Obama did stop here in ND twice... that's two more times than McCain did. And Joe, lighten up... this is OpinionEditorial, not "news", feel free to form your own opinions and write your own editorials.
"As far as I am aware, neither John McCain nor Barack Obama have been doing any presidential campaigning in North Dakota, with the exception of some national commercial campaigns, according to the WashingtonPost.com"
Although it is true that McCain hasn't been to North Dakota or maintained any campaign offices here, Obama has! Sen. Obama has been here twice, once each to Fargo & Grand Forks. Rumor has it that he may come back! He also maintained multiple campaign offices around the state with over 50 paid workers who developed a huge volunteer pool. Although the paid campaigners left the state a few weeks ago, the volunteers have stepped in to keep some of those offices open and active. Personally, I volunteer with the Bismarck office, NDGO (North Dakota Grassroots for Obama). There is still a lot of interest in North Dakota for Sen. Obama and we are working hard to inform voters.
Polls are interesting, they do look favorable for Sen. Obama at this point but I won't rest u
I feel the same way you do, Heather, as a liberal in a very conservative state. I live in Kansas, which has never, in my lifetime, given its electoral votes to a Democrat. But our current governor, Kathleen Sebelius, is a respected Democrat, and with Obama's familial ties to Kansas, who knows what might happen this upcoming election. I can't wait to find out!
As someone has stated Obama has been here twice. Once in Grand Forks at the Democratic State Convention and once in Fargo. From what I understand he may be stopping here once more before the elections. Also, Barack Obama has opened up 9 campaign offices in the state, two of them in Fargo, more then any other Democratic candidate ever has in ND. John McCain has not visited the state once and he has no offices here. Granted ND only has 3 electoral votes, but everybody is writing off this state. It just may be a surprise, probably not big enough to sway an election, but very interesting politically. Polls here have shown that it is neck and neck in this state actually. Which is something we haven't seen in a long time.
To make every vote in every state politically relevant and equal in presidential elections, support the National Popular Vote bill.
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).
The National Popular Vote bill has been approved by 21 legislative chambers (one house in CO, AR, ME, NC, and WA, and two houses in MD, IL, HI, CA, MA, NJ, RI, and VT). It has been enacted into law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These states have 50 (19%) of the 270 electoral votes needed to bring this legislation into effect.
see http://www.NationalPopularVote.com
I stand corrected. Thanks Danni. No, I didn't know Obama came to North Dakota. I searched for information for both candidates, and while I knew Hillary Clinton visited North Dakota, I couldn't find any campaign schedules that included North Dakota for McCain or Obama. Thank you for pointing that out!
I just sent you a message! Obama DID come to the state twice?!! Or did you not know about the G Forks and Fargo visits?
McCain visits or campaign headquarters here -ZERO
OBAMA O8!!
3 votes? Wow. I thought my state's 8 was bad.
Great analysis of your state! It will be interesting to see what happens.
I wish Obama would stay out of my state! After all , didn't he insult all Pennsylvanians in San Francisco behind our backs calling us a bunch of bitter people who cling to our guns and religion. .....and now the dude is trying to make amends. Sorry Obama. Hey Heather, don't you think he could have stopped by on one of his many trips back and forth between San Fran and PA. Guess he doesn't care about North Dakota. It's a beautiful state. I guess those three votes just don't make it beautiful enough for him. He's been to PA more in the last few months than all of my out of state relatives put together. By the way Heather...you don't happen to have a gun do you....I need to buy one ~see I don't have one to cling to--neither do most of my friends. Maverick n Barracuda 08