The past week might very well turn out to be seen as the week that Barack Obama clinched the election.Going into the first debate Obama had already moved into a five point lead as voters began thinking more about who they trusted to handle the financial crisis and less about whether they identified with Sarah Palin. I already noted that three polls taken immediately after the debate showed that independents overwhelmingly felt that Obama won. A new USA Today/Gallup Poll provided similar results with Obama again winning by double digits:
A new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows 46% of people who watched Friday night’s presidential debate say Democrat Barack Obama did a better job than Republican John McCain; 34% said McCain did better.
Obama scored even better — 52%-35% — when debate-watchers were asked which candidate offered the best proposals for change to solve the country’s problems.
This victory has helped propel Obama to a greater lead in the national tracking polls. Today’s Gallup three day tracking poll shows the first effect of the debate, with Obama moving out to an eight point lead, leading 50% to 42%. The full effect of the debates won’t be seen until Tuesday’s poll. New events might change the polls, but if Obama continues to extend this lead as the full effects of the debate victory are included in the results it will be very difficult for McCain to alter the race.
