Poll shows Palin a liability

The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Barack Obama’s lead widening nationwide. 

Voters prefer Obama to McCain 52% to 42%.

That’s up from a six point difference in the same poll two weeks ago.  One reason:  after seven weeks on the Republican ticket, Sarah Palin is now seen as more of a liability than an asset.

Sarah Palin continues to draw big crowds on the campaign trail, last night in Nevada.

But the NBC poll shows voters see Palin as John McCain’s biggest negative.

One third of those asked say the choice of Palin raises concerns about McCain.

Far more than the 23% who worry McCain would extend George Bush policies.

A point Barack Obama hammered again in Miami.

Sen. Obama said “after eight years of Bush-McCain economics, the pie is shrinking. The rest of the pie is getting eaten by millionaires and billionaires.“

McCain has kept an edge on the question of leadership.

Obama leads comfortably on health care, the economy, and taxes, despite McCain’s best effort. 

He campaigned across Pennsylvania.

Sen. McCain said “we’ll cut business taxes, we’ll cut the capital gains tax, we’ll help create jobs”

Another McCain bright spot:  a three-to-one edge among military service members, according to the Army Times.  But how to spread it in two weeks?

CNBC Chief Washington Correspondent John Harwood said “what John McCain has to do…is not only dominate the undecided voters but shake loose a chunk of voters from Barack Obama who have now moved to support him - that’s not easy to do.“

In the NBC poll, 8% of voters say race is important.  Of those, 4% say it makes them less likely to vote Obama.

That’s compared to 22% who say age is important. 18% of them, mostly seniors, say it makes them less likely to vote McCain.

Today, Obama tries to grow his lead in Virginia which could vote Democrat for the first time in 44 years.  McCain returns to New Hampshire, the state that revived his bid in the primaries and now polls show leans Obama.