Fox News poll: Romney erases five-point Obama lead, now leads by one

posted at 7:21 pm on October 10, 2012 by Allahpundit

Two weeks ago, he trailed Obama 48/43. Today: Romney 46, Obama 45, which is nearly identical to what Reuters’s latest tracking poll shows. Add the Fox poll to the new Gallup and Rasmussen trackers and a couple of others, and voila — a 1.5 point lead for Mitt in the RCP poll of polls. Until this week, Romney had never led in RCP except for a few days last October, and even then his lead never exceeded 0.7 points. We’re in uncharted territory here at the right time.

Some of the Fox data will sound familiar based on what other recent polls are telling us, some of it not so much. The familiar: Romney’s now crushing Obama among independents — a 16-point swing — and his favorables have shot up since the debate, to the point where he actually scores slightly higher than O. Not so familiar:

Support for Obama is down a bit across the board — most notably among young voters: 50 percent of voters under age 30 back Obama, down from 58 percent two weeks ago.

According to the Fox News exit poll, 66 percent of young voters and 52 percent of independents backed Obama in the 2008 election.

As for the election’s key metric, the trendline says it all:

That’s a bad, bad number for The One less than a month out from election day and with the decisive sliver of undecideds now starting to make up their minds. The enthusiasm numbers are grim for him too, with Fox now showing a nine-point advantage for the GOP when voters are asked if they’re very or extremely interested in the election and a seven-point advantage when they’re asked if it’s “extremely” important for their candidate to win. Four years ago, just before election day, Obama had a six-point advantage on that same question. He ended up winning by seven.

Time for Democrats to start breathing into a paper bag? Maybe not just yet, but sounds from this Major Garrett piece like they’re getting the bags ready, just in case:

“This is the first time in this entire campaign some of the new people have seen a bad run,” said a senior Obama strategist. “The veterans are telling them they need to ride it out.”…

Internal Obama swing-state polling now confirms this harsh reality: The president’s lackluster performance cost him all of the advantages he built up through the Democratic National Convention and via Romney’s now-infamous dismissal of the “47 percent” of the country that he said in a closed-door fundraiser would never vote for him.

In other words, in 90 minutes, Obama flushed a month’s worth of convention and 47-percent bounce.

“We were in the lead, but that’s all washed away,” the president’s strategist said. “Now it’s up to us to make the case again against him. Most undecideds are making a choice about him, not the president.”

“We have all sorts of metrics beyond polls,” said another Obama advisor, which goes to show how much they dislike what they’re seeing in their polls right now.

Two more data sets from the Fox crosstabs, just for funsies. Made me laugh:

After that debate performance, O should consider it a moral victory that he’s still under 50 percent. This one is enjoyable too, and more relevant to the voting booth:

Poor President Downgrade. As for the sample, it’s D+1, which is solid given the inevitable surge towards Republican identification after Romney’s debate win. Team Mitt says they’re expecting D+3 on election day, but who knows? If Obama follows through on his ingenious new “all Big Bird, all the time” strategy down the stretch, D+1 or even doesn’t seem so far-fetched.


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Incompetency is just a liable as Malevolence…

Doctors are held accountable for incompetence…so should those in Government.

workingclass artist on May 17, 2013 at 2:29 PM

“…and it’s important to note that they universally claim that any errors or missteps did not cost lives…”

Here is the crux of the matter. The Obysmal administration was so intent on portraying Libya as a great success in the flourishing of democracy and that Al Qaeda was “on the run” that they hadn’t prepared for the jihadists’ attack. Sending in help or a rescue might have cost even more lives, and they didn’t want the body count to even go higher. The O-team was content to keep the “collateral damage” relatively small for their own cynically political purposes.

onlineanalyst on May 17, 2013 at 2:31 PM

I consider them both but if they are publicly saying this as their excuse, then you can bet they are worried that the actual info is about to come out. For all those not paying attention, that would be Fast and Furious 2; The benghazi edition.

Boehner should step up and say, “ok, we are all in agreement that you are idiots, now we are going to find out just what the hell you were doing over there!”

can_con on May 17, 2013 at 2:32 PM

Regarding the Rush caller near the end of his program just now wondering why all the focus on the coverup of the Benghazi matter and not the cause of it: it’s because if you look at the factors that led to the attack you’ll find McCain, Rubio and Graham were promoters and the GOP establishment would prefer people only focus on the aftermath and Democrat coverup rather than the bi-partisan cause.

FloatingRock on May 17, 2013 at 2:43 PM

Their best defense: We’re horribly incompetent and shouldn’t be allowed to run a hamburger stand. But we still don’t think our incompetence caused anyone to die.”

And even there, we can point to 4 people who died, and many more that would have died if 2 of those 4 hadn’t responded without waiting for orders and staged a rescue action.

So it’s not really, “incompetence that didn’t cost any lives.” It’s “incompetence that cost 4 lives.

And this is their best defense. Which almost certainly means they’re lying, and there really was deliberate malice and/or neglect behind it.

There Goes the Neighborhood on May 17, 2013 at 3:01 PM

Here’s a crazy thought. Earlier in the day, the Cairo embassy had been besieged. Why not put fast-response forces on standby THEN?

Basically the U.S. response on 9/11/12 was the same as a rabbit when it notices a nearby wolf. Hold very still and hope the threat passes by.

hawksruleva on May 17, 2013 at 3:01 PM

Do a google map search of Sigonella and tell me what type of aircraft (and the number) that you see there.

blink on May 17, 2013 at 2:41 PM

That’s definitely a non-zero number of aircraft. For that matter, I hear there are aircraft all over the world. I’m thinking if the US REALLY wants to get somewhere, we can probably pay enough to charter a flight/commandeer a helicopter, etc.

Too bad we don’t have any naval capabilities available in the Middle East. Or an air base in the Middle East. Or a friendly well-prepared regional ally who could send in some forces on our behalf.

hawksruleva on May 17, 2013 at 3:07 PM

Is that going to be Hillary’s campaign slogan?

Hillary 2016: “I’m Not Corrupt, Just Incompetent!”

AZCoyote on May 17, 2013 at 4:05 PM

Is that going to be Hillary’s campaign slogan?

Hillary 2016: “I’m Not Corrupt, Just Incompetent!”

AZCoyote on May 17, 2013 at 4:05 PM

“I can’t answer the god*!mn 3am phone call…cause I’m too drunk to find the f*#kin’ phone…@#$%&*$#@!!…” – Hillary Clinton

workingclass artist on May 17, 2013 at 4:18 PM

“We’re portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots,” said one Obama administration official who was part of the Benghazi response. “It’s actually closer to us being idiots.”

The GOP should use that quote in every political ad against Dems from here on out.

Of course they won’t…they don’t want to “alienate moderates” or something limp-wristed akin to that.

Dr. ZhivBlago on May 17, 2013 at 4:19 PM

Weapons To Syria.

Libyan weapons to Syria, Mali and Gaza Strip – US Security Council Report.

We were in Benghazi for the weapons.

oldroy on May 17, 2013 at 4:39 PM

“US” – Should be UN Security Council

oldroy on May 17, 2013 at 4:39 PM

So it seems that the real clusterfark of idiocy is that no accounting was made for how to deal with Libyan weaponry and we have essentially armed a whole region of terrorists militias and rebels.

oldroy on May 17, 2013 at 4:51 PM

Stevens was probably in Benghazi to review weapons “applications” from different bidders. As long as you didn’t have anything like “Tea Party” in your militias name, you could buy sell or trade weapons.

oldroy on May 17, 2013 at 4:55 PM

OK let’s see

An idiot would say here, “I was an idiot”

A liar would say here … “I was an idiot”

In other words, these remarks are devoid of any information content

rightmind on May 17, 2013 at 1:11 PM

If I remember the logic puzzle correctly, the right question to ask would be something like “If I asked you yesterday whether you were an idiot or a liar, which would you have answered?”. Idiot still says “idiot”, liar would have said “idiot” yesterday, but must now lie about that so must say “liar”.

WTF, correct answer is “progressive”.

bofh on May 17, 2013 at 4:59 PM

WTF, correct answer is “progressive”.

bofh on May 17, 2013 at 4:59 PM

Correct answer is “Regime Changer without a plan to deal with 40 years of Quackadaffy weapons left behind.”

oldroy on May 17, 2013 at 5:02 PM

Oops.

oldroy on May 17, 2013 at 5:02 PM

When incompetence merges with complete corruption you have a perfect storm.

MaiDee on May 17, 2013 at 6:09 PM

Do a google map search of Sigonella and tell me what type of aircraft (and the number) that you see there.

blink on May 17, 2013 at 2:41 PM

Those maps are old, but ok, One sec…

Ok I did that. There are a number of jets on the tarmac. I knew there would be.

That’s definitely a non-zero number of aircraft. For that matter, I hear there are aircraft all over the world. I’m thinking if the US REALLY wants to get somewhere, we can probably pay enough to charter a flight/commandeer a helicopter, etc.

Too bad we don’t have any naval capabilities available in the Middle East. Or an air base in the Middle East. Or a friendly well-prepared regional ally who could send in some forces on our behalf.

hawksruleva on May 17, 2013 at 3:07 PM

That was my point. Any adult would know this. There is no excuse for letting those men die.

dogsoldier on May 17, 2013 at 6:27 PM

hawksruleva on May 17, 2013 at 3:07 PM

We can either charter one or if necessary we have people that can borrow one.

dogsoldier on May 17, 2013 at 6:29 PM

I think “lying idiots” pretty well covers it!

Another Drew on May 17, 2013 at 6:35 PM

I keep going back to Hillary’s 3:00 A.M. Phone Call ad. It seems that everybody in the administration failed that test. They’ve sunken below even my lowest expectations, and I don’t see anyone in the GOP bullpen likely to rise above ideological squabbles and lead us out of this.

flataffect on May 17, 2013 at 7:06 PM

The challenge was issued above by an obvious Obama apologist, to look at a Google map of Sigonella and report whether any aircraft were seen there.

The question would be, “why not”. Actually, if there are no aircraft there now, there soon will be because the Italian government has just reported that 200 U.S. Marines plus two aircraft are being based at the joint U.S. Italian base at Sigonella, Sicily. (Just across a short stretch of water from Benghazi.) “Quick, the horse is galloping down the lane, close the barn door.”

Oldflyer on May 17, 2013 at 7:48 PM

Let’s just ponder that a moment. We took our quick-response team offline on the anniversary of 9/11? Who made that call?

This is why I do not believe it was stupidity. I believe whoever left the ambassador isolated, wanted to make sure he was not covered

I am a minority, but I believe there was to be an event to lead to a glorious hostage exchange – but it was foiled by the brave men who refused to stand down. Whoever started the evil chess game was left hanging and they had to run with the video fast, precisely because no one, no one, would be able to explain withholding cover from the victims. If I am right, I will never be vindicated, because the scandal will be too great so they have to fall back on stupidity

IMHO stupidity in such a case implies a total contempt for the lives of the victims. This is why we need an IRS scandal.

In any case, there is no way Obama can justify flying off the next day to a fund raiser. That in itself demands an IRS scandal. Since the Whistleblowers were coming, the guilty ones had to start a chicken dance, fast.

AP scandal was the one and only way to get the MSM willing to beat up on Obama’s IRS

entagor on May 17, 2013 at 10:11 PM

My vote goes to: you are lying idiots.

ghostwalker1 on May 17, 2013 at 11:18 PM

One theory has it that the whole thing was a charade to set up a prisoner exchange – Stevens for the Blind Sheik. It would explain:

1. Why there was reduced security.

2. Why the platoon on the way within Libya was told to stand down.

3. Why it was called a hostage situation.

The men who fought back apparently weren’t in on the plan. This enraged the attackers, who thought they’d been lured into a trap or betrayed. So they went and got more friends and made a second attack.

Akzed on May 17, 2013 at 12:58 PM


This is a theory that makes all the pieces fit. It’s true they’re incompetent, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t also up to no good.

Cara C on May 18, 2013 at 1:05 AM

Wonderful article by Sharyl A. The administration appears to be conceding they have lost the debate and are plea bargaining for the lesser charge of idiocy over malice. This won’t do. In the entire piece, no explanation was given for the arrival of the video onto the scene.

Don’t fall for that hangdog expression, Repubs. Those watery eyes are shifting about.

MaxMBJ on May 18, 2013 at 3:30 AM

The challenge was issued above by an obvious Obama apologist, to look at a Google map of Sigonella and report whether any aircraft were seen there.

The question would be, “why not”. Actually, if there are no aircraft there now, there soon will be because the Italian government has just reported that 200 U.S. Marines plus two aircraft are being based at the joint U.S. Italian base at Sigonella, Sicily. (Just across a short stretch of water from Benghazi.) “Quick, the horse is galloping down the lane, close the barn door.”

Oldflyer on May 17, 2013 at 7:48 PM

There were people in Tripoli, who could have gotten to Benghazi. All of that came out in direct testimony from a variety of sources.

dogsoldier on May 18, 2013 at 10:26 AM

Wonderful article by Sharyl A. The administration appears to be conceding they have lost the debate and are plea bargaining for the lesser charge of idiocy over malice. This won’t do. In the entire piece, no explanation was given for the arrival of the video onto the scene.

Don’t fall for that hangdog expression, Repubs. Those watery eyes are shifting about.

MaxMBJ on May 18, 2013 at 3:30 AM

You are correct, but it’s malice when you deliberately leave someone in a precarious position ( I mean 9/11 really? ) and ignore their pleas for help<<<<< And then HE.WENT.TO.BED.

That is the most malicious thing ever. Oh wait! Then HE.LIED.ABOUT.IT

Then he got everyone around him to lie about it. And go on five shows to lie about it and he made a lying ass commercial about it and had some poor slob who made a youtube video locked up and lied about it.

Geez he's STILL lying about it.

dogsoldier on May 18, 2013 at 10:31 AM

I’m surprised that the Regime is claiming the “idiot defense”. I thought Team Obama were the smartest guys in the room. The MSM has told us Obama is the best thing since sliced white bread. What happened to his 2008 campaign slogan “Judgement To Lead”? But I guess in their minds, claiming to be idiots is better that self identifying as marxist enemies of America.

SpiderMike on May 18, 2013 at 11:23 AM

Hillary 2016: “I’m Not Corrupt, I’m Just an Idiot!”

AZCoyote on May 18, 2013 at 2:48 PM

Personally I believe they were let to die so this admin could cover their arses, i.e….the gun running similar to f&f; what other reason could there honestly be? Idiots? No. Calculating Bastards with no morals at all? YES!
This is a far more corrupt admin than we may ever know… I hope they all die a slow painful death….SOON!

OldWeaselKeeper on May 18, 2013 at 10:15 PM

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