First, GOTV! Let's not confuse our celebration with complacency. That being said...
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting a prediction by the Field Poll of the largest landslide in California state history. If that's not repudiating enough for the Bush/McCain crowd, it is said to eclipse the victory of California's own Ronald Reagan.
Obama and his vice presidential running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, now lead Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by a whopping 55-33 percent in the nation's most populous state, according to the Field Poll of 966 likely voters conducted Oct. 18-28.
The numbers are unequivocal. Obama leads every demographic except those over 65. He is strongest in the groups where voter registration is also strongest. According to Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll:
"He really is doing very well among the new emerging voters in California, in the largest areas where the voting population is growing fastest - the Latino vote, the youth vote and the nonpartisan vote," "these are groups that will have a huge amount of influence down the road."
And let's not forget the Democrats' secret weapon, Sarah Palin:
-- The choice of Palin as McCain's vice president has been viewed through an "extremely partisan" lens, said DiCamillo.
While Republicans view Palin positively by 74-19 percent, Democrats and nonpartisans have a very negative image of her; Democrats hold a 75-15 percent unfavorable-favorable rating of Palin, and nonpartisans also have a 65-20 percent negative assessment of her, the poll showed.
The Palin pick "really did nothing to broaden the McCain support levels among his own base," said DiCamillo, who said that Democratic and independent voters tended to see it as a choice that "reflected poorly on his judgment."
Palin's appeal is similar to that of Proposition 8, mindless bigotry hidden behind fallacious arguments. Thinking clearly about what's right will eliminate these choice for most people. For those incapable, I'm hoping the overwhelming odds against the success of the former will keep many home on election day, benefiting the latter.
I'm looking for a big night of celebration in California. You easterner folks ought to stay up late for the big party!