Poll: Obama-Edwards ticket would be strong in state
On the heels of John McCain's Friday campaign stop in Wisconsin, a new SurveyUSA poll suggests the presumptive Republican nominee for president has ground to make up in his race with Democrat Barack Obama.
And if Obama adds former North Carolina Senator John Edwards to his ticket, the Democrats move into a wide lead over any Republican ticket.
Edwards, the party's 2004 vice presidential nominee, appears to add so much political muscle that an Obama-Edwards ticket could ease Wisconsin out of "Battleground-State" status and over to the "Solid-Blue Democrat" column.
The poll, conducted in mid-May for television stations in Minneapolis and Duluth that serve western Wisconsin, asked 600 registered voters statewide how they intended to vote in the presidential race.
Among all voters, Obama leads 48 percent to 42 percent.
The Illinois senator enjoyed a solid lead among Democrats (78 percent to 9 percent) and independents (53-36). He was also comfortably ahead among women (47-39) and narrowly in front with men (49-45).
Among African-American voters, Obama is way ahead (77-23), which contributes to a big lead in southeast Wisconsin.
Adding Edwards bumps an Obama-led ticket over 50 percent in hypothetical matchups with Republican tickets, including McCain and potential running mates such as former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee or Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
For instance, the Obama-Edwards ticket beats the McCain-Romney ticket 51 percent to 39 percent.
No other potential Democratic running-mate -- Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius were among those tested -- brings as much to an Obama-led ticket as does Edwards. But it should be noted that SurveyUSA did not test a pairing of Obama and his last challenger for the Democratic nod, New York Senator Hillary Clinton -- or, for that matter, an Obama-Russ Feingold ticket.
Intriguingly, McCain's numbers fall when he is paired with potential running mates. Of course, SurveyUSA did not test for Janesville Congressman Paul Ryan, a long-shot prospect whose home-state appeal would undoubtedly aid the Republican ticket in the Badger State.
Bottom line: Obama's ahead in Wisconsin. And if Republicans want to compete here in the fall they had better hope the Democrats don't pick John Edwards as their vice presidential nominee.
For more SurveyUSA polls, visit: http://www.surveyusa.com/electionpolls.aspx
Jae C. Hung/Associated Press
If Barack Obama (right) adds John Edwards (left) to his ticket, the Democrats may be tough to beat in Wisconsin.
