Poll: N.C. tipping back into red

Raleigh, N.C. — Republicans John McCain and Pat McCrory are edging ahead of their Democratic rivals among North Carolina voters in the presidential and gubernatorial races, according to a new WRAL News poll.

Polling firm Rasmussen Reports surveyed 700 likely voters statewide on Thursday and found North Carolina trending toward its Republican tradition. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

McCain erased the lead Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama held in recent WRAL News polls and now hold a 50 to 48 percent lead in the latest poll.

McCain holds a 17-point lead among independents statewide, according to the poll. He also leads among male voters by a 59 to 39 percent margin, compared with Obama's 55 to 43 percent lead among women.

The economy remains the top concern among North Carolina voters – 43 percent of respondents listed it as the issue most likely to influence them at the polls – and the majority of those surveyed said McCain was better equipped to handle economic issues.

In the gubernatorial race, McCrory leads Democratic candidate Beverly Perdue by 51 to 47 percent, according to the poll.

McCrory holds a 20-point lead among male voters, compared with Perdue's 8-point margin among women. He also is backed by almost one-fifth of Democratic voters and a majority of independents, according to the poll.

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Wow! I just can't believe how many people on here are filthy rich, and so don't want their taxes raised. If I made over 250k I might think about voting for McCain/Palin too. Plus, Palin is HOTT! Wow, and she looks great in all those new outfits they bought her! But, anyway, I can see how rich folks like you all wouldn't want your taxes raised, and plus all them conservative blogger sites talking 'bout fake birth certificates, arabs, terrorist, socialists, etc, could definitely sway me, even though you'd have to be dumber than dumb dirt to believe any of that kind of hogwash, 'cept if you was making over 250 G a year and stood to loose maybe another 6-8 K in taxes - Ouch!! How will we eat????

Kilroywashere
October 24, 2008 9:54 p.m.

Census Bureau data reveal large, consistent differences in patterns of real pre-tax income growth under Democratic and Republican presidents in the post-war U.S. Democratic presidents have produced more income growth for poor families than for rich families, resulting in a modest decrease in overall inequality. Republican presidents have produced a great deal more income growth for rich families than poor families, resulting in a substantial increase in inequality. On average, families at the 95th percentile of the income distribution have experienced identical income growth under Democratic and Republican presidents, while those at the 20th percentile have experienced more than four times as much income growth under Democrats as they have under Republicans. These differences are attributable to partisan differences in unemployment which has been 30 percent lower under Democratic presidents, on average, and GDP growth which has been 30 percent higher under Democratic presidents.

PatsFan
October 24, 2008 9:31 p.m.

You know, the more I think about it, you all just keep drinking the McCain/Palin KoolAid. They win and we in the top 2% get to keep our tax breaks and you slobs can fund them. Who am I to deny stupidity? I will be the one driving the new Mercedes Diesel with the Obama/Biden sticker laughing my way to my broker's office.

PatsFan
October 24, 2008 8:37 p.m.

Those who are voting for McCain because they think he will do a better job with the economy are mistaken. Review the performance of the economy since 1900 under Democratic vs Republican administrations. Economic performance of the country was multiples greater under Democratic administrations. And this notion of Obama being a socialist is simply ludicrous. The reason to give tax breaks to the lower income earners -- sorry but I am in the over $250k tax bracket -- is that we are an economy that is highly dependent on consumer spending. You people in the lower income brackets are much more inclined to spend your money than save it thus fueling economic growth. Higher income people in fact spend less on a percentage basis and invest more. While we like our capital gains taxes to be as low as possible, the size of the capital gains tax is not going to stop us from investing. Whether I pay $180,000 or $150,000 in taxes on a capital gain of $1,000,000, we still make over $850,000.

PatsFan
October 24, 2008 8:22 p.m.

Gosh, I hope not.

Obama/Biden 08'!