The spin is Palin helps McCain close the gap
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122099348086116259.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_newsWASHINGTON -- John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate has shaken up the presidential race, lifting enthusiasm among his once-subdued supporters, and boosting the ticket's appeal with women, rural voters, and Southerners.
The new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll also shows that a majority all voters say they are comfortable with the idea of the first-term Alaska governor as vice president, despite a national debate over whether she is experienced enough for the job.
The Palin effect helps explain why Sen. McCain is now even with Barack Obama in the head-to-head race. With eight weeks until Election Day, the Journal survey found a dead heat: 46% of registered voters favor Sens. Obama and Joe Biden, and 45% favor McCain-Palin. The lift, if sustained, could also help Republicans running for the House and Senate in close races, particularly in the South.
The poll was taken starting Saturday -- two days after the end of the Republican National Convention ended in St. Paul, Minn. -- through Monday night. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points, meaning either candidate could be slightly ahead.
The survey had good news for Sen. Obama as well, showing that he improved his standing with the electorate in areas where he had been seen as weak. More voters found said they were comfortable with him as president that they did in a Journal poll three weeks ago, as did the portion who said they were confident in his ability to be commander in chief.
A growing number also said he has a background and set of values they can identify with.
And despite the McCain-Palin bounce, Democratic pollster Peter Hart -- who conducts the poll with Republican Neil Newhouse -- offered a caution for the Republicans. He noted that voters are just getting to know Gov. Palin: "The faster they rise, the steeper the descent."
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