The national and local buzz is huge that Pawlenty will be McCain's running mate. A new Quinnipiac poll helps that thought, it shows McCain essentially chopping down Obama's once double digit lead in Minnesota. The 46-44 lead for Obama now compares to 54-37 back in June. Also, Pawlenty has an event in Bloomington for McCain today. He'll talk about lowering gas prices. The poll shows that issue is working for McCain, one in ten changed their minds and now favor drilling.
“Sen. McCain is gaining strength, particularly among younger voters, independents and the Twin Cities suburbs, but the situation remains fluid with more than a third of independent voters saying their minds are not yet made up,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“Democrat Al Franken still faces an uphill battle in his quest to unseat Sen. Norm Coleman, with almost 20 percent of the voters in his own party voting for the Republican incumbent.”
Franken still has trouble down 53-38 compared to 51-41 in June. This is generally a well-respected poll, it has a good sample and talks to real people. But many are questioning the big swing. Franken's campaign pointed out that "The party ID breakdown from the poll was 14% Republican 23% Democrat 64% Independent."
DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez says the polls are everywhere and no one knows what to believe. The Democratic Party head did have a barbed quote when asked about Pawlenty for VP, after wondering if the governor would resign his state post to run for national office, Melendez delivered this back handed compliment about Pawlenty "He's done a great job sucking up to John McCain."