An InsiderAdvantage/Poll Position poll in Georgia points to an Obama “implosion” in state that the Obama campaign had expressed hopes of winning until recently. Last week, the Obama campaign began pulling out 75% of its staffers in Georgia and moving them to North Carolina, Virginia and Michigan. The InsiderAdvantage/Poll Position shows McCain leading 56% to 38%.
“This is a huge slide from what had been, in our prior surveys, a relatively close race. The reason is simple—Obama lost serious ground in virtually every demographic.
“At first glance it would seem that Obama is headed for no better than the low 40 percentile level achieved by John Kerry in 2004. But let me warn observers that in both our national tracking and surveys in other states, the biggest change has been a near parity between the two candidates among the youngest of voters.
“Should that group return to Obama and the African-American vote end up where we expect it to be, the race could be closer in November. But as of now Georgia is no longer a “leans McCain” state. As of this survey, Georgia is in the McCain column.”
The poll, to remain consistent with seven total state polls conducted around the nation by the firm Wednesday evening, does not list Bob Barr as a candidate. “Having Bob Barr’s name on the ballot would likely take a net point or two from McCain, but at least at this stage, Barr’s presence is not an essential piece of the electoral pie in Georgia,” Towery said. “If the race tightens, that could change.”
Georgia has 15 Electoral College votes.