GWU/Battleground Poll: John McCain Down by One

The GWU/Battleground Poll, run by Republican strategist Ed Goeas of The Tarrance Group and Democrat Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners, has John McCain just one point behind Barack Obama, the two candidates at 48% and 47%.

Just a few days ago, the same poll had Barack Obama ahead of John McCain by thirteen points. How to account for the sudden and massive tightening of the polls?

First, the initial shock of the current economic crisis seems to have faded a little and people have had a little time to digest it. It is a general rule that people tend to blame the party in power, which is presumed to in this case be the Republicans since George W. Bush is in the White House, for economic problems. Hence, Barack Obama has ridden a wave of popularity for the past few weeks.

But people also are coming to realize the heavy involvement of Democrats, such as Barack Obama, in causing the economic crisis. They are also noting that economic times have been pretty good under President Bush up until the capture of the Congress by the Democrats.

Two other incidents have occurred to shake public confidence in the ability of Barack Obama to be President. The first had to do with a man now famously known as Joe the Plumber. The second came out of the mouth of Barack Obama's own running mate, Joe Biden.

When Barack Obama accosted Joe Wurzelbacher in his front yard in Toledo, Ohio, Joe had the temerity to ask the candidate a question. What's up with you wanting to raise my taxes? Barack Obama had a telling response. Barack Obama wants to raise taxes in order to "spread the wealth." In other words, take money from some people to give to others. In other words, socialism.

The second incident took place more recently when Senator Joe Biden announced to a group of campaign doners that Barack Obama would be "tested" within six months of becoming President by the enemies of the United States. Biden further suggested that Obama's response would not be entirely popular.