Zogby Poll: John McCain Up Five Points Over Obama

John McCain has pulled ahead by five points in the Zogby Poll, as reported by Reuters. While most other polls show the American Presidential a dead heat and Zogby has been known to have its share of misses, the news cannot be welcome at the Obama Campaign.

To be sure the John McCain Campaign has been very effective in defining Barack Obama negatively. From commercials comparing Barack Obama to Paris Hilton to questioning Barack Obama's ability to lead, John McCain has managed to keep on the offensive. While no doubt the Barack Obama Campaign will complain about "swift boating", Barack Obama has no one really to blame but himself.

The various Barack Obama stumbles during the primaries, from his unfortunate friendships with crazy preachers and creepy terrorists, to the "bittergate" remarks have been well documented. But Barack Obama's gaffe riot did not stop with him clinching the nomination. The Berlin Speech did not come off quite as intended. Barack Obama's various flip flops on issues ranging from oil drilling to space exploration have become the stuff of political legend. The joke is that Barack Obama's support for "change" includes his own campaign positions.

Barack Obama' stumble on the Russian rape of Georgia did not help either. Nor did his lackluster performance with Rick Warren benefit him. John McCain, far from sounding old, came across as energetic and decisive compared to Barack Obama.

The latest Barack Obama stumble concerns an incident when he was an Illinois State Senator when he appeared to come out in favor of infanticide. A bill was introduced in the Illinois State Legislature to require that babies having been born alive after botched late term abortions be afforded medical care. It seems that far too many hospitals in Illinois were just setting such babies aside to die, sort of a form of the ancient custom of "exposing" an unwanted infant, albeit in a hospital storage room and not on a hillside somewhere for the wolves to come. Barack Obama was the only Illinois State Senator to oppose the bill, something that creeps out even most pro choice people. Obama's various excuses remain unconvincing.

The immediate future doesn't look much better for Barack Obama. He may hope that his selection of a running mate will jump start his campaign, but such things can backfire more often than not. And then Barack Obama faces a convention where disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters will be inside the hall and various lunatics aching to riot will be outside the hall.

If things get any worse, Barack Obama may find himself looking back at his five point deficit in the Zogby Poll with nostalgia.

Sources: Reuters/Zogby Poll: McCain Makes a Move, Takes 5-Point Lead Over Obama, Zogby International, August 20th, 2008
Candidates' Abortion Views Not So Simple, Jonathon Weisman, Washington Post, August 20th, 2008