A new USA Today/Gallup poll has McCain leading Obama 50-46 among registered voters and a stunning 54-44 among likely voters. USA Today points out, a bit incoherently, that the convention has seriously energized the Republican base: “Republicans by 47%-39% were less enthusiastic than usual about voting. Now, they are more enthusiastic by 60%-24%, a sweeping change that narrows a key Democratic advantage.”
There are a number of reasons not to freak out, of course. A lot can change between now and November, polling isn’t everything, Gallup isn’t super-reliable, the debates are an X-factor, yada yada yada. I suspect that won’t be calming a lot of fluttering hearts. Maybe this will: Obama still holds a decisive lead in the electoral college tally.