Poll: Americans have high hopes for Obama

Lots of good stuff in this, but here are a few things that stand out-

Nearly seven in 10 adults, or 68%, say they have a favorable opinion of President-elect Barack Obama. Nearly that many — 65% — say they think the country will be better off four years from now.

A much lower level of optimism greeted President Bush and former president Bill Clinton when they were first elected. In both cases just slightly over 50% said they thought the country would be better off.

Bush's job approval rating is a mirror image of Obama's favorable rating — 68% say they disapprove of how the Republican is handling his job.

(snip)

Nearly two-thirds, 64%, said Obama's top priority as president should be improving the economy. Majorities said it was critical or very important that the Democrat sign new, stricter regulations on financial companies, help people facing foreclosure and pass a tax cut for the middle class. (ed note- Doesn't sound the least bit "right of center" to me)

Polls- Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wyoming

I'm really loving that PA poll and McCain can bite me with his 3 Wyoming electorals. Via Jake.

Illinois -- 56-32 Obama, 10/18,
Chicago Tribune

New Jersey -- 59-36 Obama, 10/19, Quinnipiac University

Pennsylvania -- 52-42 Obama, 10/20, Muhlenberg College/Morning Call

Wyoming -- 58-32 McCain, 10/14,
Mason-Dixon/The Casper Star-Tribune

Electoral map via 538

Pollapalooza- Obama Expands Lead in Tracking Poll & More

Poll p0rn for thee!! Taegan's got the tease-

Political Wire got an advance look at the latest Diageo/Hotline tracking poll which shows Sen. Barack Obama opening up his widest lead yet over Sen. John McCain, 50% to 40%.

The poll is based on a three days of polling results -- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The last presidential debate was on Wednesday night.

Awwww.

Rasmussen: Obama Pulls Away in Missouri

Ooooh.

Virginia Poll: Obama Leads By Six

I need to go lay down now.

Gramm-pa McCain's ads backfired: Obama rakes in the cash

By GottaLaff

From the Just Desserts Department:

One official close to the campaign said that September's fundraising haul set a new record, surpassing the $66 million Obama raised in August. Another aide, asked about the campaign's take, would only describe it: "big."

Moreover, the assault that John McCain has launched against Obama's character - including repeated criticisms of the Illinois Democrat's association to former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers - has largely backfired. Obama sources shared internal campaign polling figures that show a sharp fall in positive feelings for the Republican ticket. Following the most recent spat of negative ads, they say, McCain's unfavorable rating has gone over 50 percent, notably higher than anything detected in recent public polling.

Gov. Sarah Palin is fairing just as poorly if not worse. In New Hampshire, an official with knowledge of internal polling says the Alaska Republican's favorable rating has nosedived to 36 percent, with 56 percent viewing her unfavorably.

And how's about all them new attack ads?

At this point, Obama might welcome the move. His campaign's data suggests that the remaining undecideds are those voters who tend to be non-political -- a group that does not respond well to negative advertisements. As such, much of what Chicago headquarters plans to do going forward will echo the economic message it has pushed in recent weeks.

Here comes my favorite part. Ready? Ready?

There will, however, be one new ripple. On Monday, Obama's communication's shop is expected to go on the offense on issues of voter protection after a week in which Republicans cried foul about registration efforts in various states and painted the community organizing organization ACORN as a criminal enterprise.

Obama aides will attack Republicans for what they view as efforts to disenfranchise voters in several states, and announce a voter protection campaign involving hundreds of volunteer lawyers around the country.

Yes! Yes, yes, yes! This is what I've been waiting to hear. I've got every possible anatomical part crossed in hopes they can have some affect on the despicable voter suppression efforts by the McUnAmerican campaign. Even though it's a ripple and not a wave, even though it's hundreds of lawyers and not thousands, it's something.

Won't it be nice to get democracy back again?

H/t: Ellen