New poll puts McCain ahead of Obama

This morning, one national poll shows John McCain getting a big bump off the GOP convention last week.  The USA Today/Gallup Poll has McCain leading Barack Obama 50% to 46% among registered voters.  That’s outside the poll’s margin of error. 

This is just one poll but it’s good news for John McCain.  The survey was taken Friday to Sunday, after the GOP convention, and it shows McCain more than wiping out Barack Obama’s lead from the week before.

John McCain and Sarah Palin today campaign in Missouri after a weekend in the West.

McCain is riding a wave of GOP excitement about his runningmate.

Sen. McCain said “I can’t wait to introduce her to the big spenders in Washington D.C.“

Democrats are challenging Palin’s claim she’s anti-waste.

Gov. Palin said “I told the Congress “thanks, but no thanks,“ for that Bridge to Nowhere.“

Palin supported the bridge while running for governor. She turned against it only after the project drew headlines as pork, and Congress killed the earmark.

Congress did end up giving Alaska the money but with no strings attached and Palin took it for other projects.

Barack Obama said Republicans are spinning her record.

Sen. Obama said “when you’ve been taking all these earmarks when its convenient then suddenly you’re the champion anti earmark person, that’s not change. Come on!“

Obama has tapped Senator Hillary Clinton to take on McCain and Palin’s claims head on. 

She rallies today in Florida.

Aides to McCain confirm Palin will do a television interview later this week in Alaska. 

It will be her first as McCain’s runningmate.

Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, said “she’s not scared to answer questions.  But you know what?  We run our campaign, not the news media.  And we’ll do things on our timetable.“

For now, McCain and Palin will campaign together.  Aides say McCain is liking the excitement she brings to his campaign.