Barack's Big Week

The Daily Tracking Poll from Rasmussen has Barack up 1% today, and Gallup shows him up 6%. The bad economy has been very, very good to Barack.

Obama's current 50% rating matches his 50% record high reached just after the Democratic National Convention. (That came in Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 30-Sept. 1.) However, his current six percentage point advantage is not as large as the nine-point lead he held in late July and an eight-point lead after the Democratic National Convention in late August.

Of course, Barack seized the opportunity to turn the conversation back to the narrative that favors him - Republicans have made things miserable, you have to vote for change. And McCain had his first inept week since new management took control of his campaign in early July.

It is important to note that McCain recovered and moved ahead after each of these Obama high points, suggesting that it is certainly possible that McCain could recover in this situation as well.

The real fun comes this Friday, when Barack and McCain meet in their first debate!

The Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator shows Obama leading in states with 193 Electoral College votes while Obama has the edge in states with 189 votes. When “leaners” are included, Obama leads 259-247.