Opinion poll hints at landslide victory

Survey backs rumblings that Obama will be the next president

 A dramatic new opinion poll yesterday supported media claims that Barack Obama and his aides anticipate a landslide victory on Nov. 4.

The latest Gallup poll, carried out before Tuesday’s town hall debate, gave Obama a projected 52 percent of the national vote to John McCain’s 41 percent.

And with most observers judging that Obama, at worst, earned a draw from the latest debate, the poll numbers are the best for Obama of the entire campaign.

But even before the latest Gallup findings, Obama’s aides were reportedly saying that private polling showed Obama had a chance of taking nine states held by the Republicans in 2004.

U.S.-based correspondents of the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper were told the Obama camp expects to take Iowa, New Mexico and Colorado, and even states like North Carolina, Virginia and Indiana, which had not been regarded  as winnable before.

Statewide surveys show a tight race with Obama in line to receive 273 electoral college votes  —three more than he needs to win. But Obama’s staff suggest he might win as many as 330 to 340.

Gallup said yesterday that concern about the economy seems to be playing to Obama’s advantage.

Other analysts pointed to a poll taken in the first week of October 2000, Al Gore had a near-seven point lead over George W. Bush. Gore lost a month later.