Financial Crisis Has Hit "Pause" Button on Presidential Contest; Obama-Biden leads 47%-41%

New York, NY - With the failure of the bailout plan and the financial crisis dominating the airwaves, today's Diageo/Hotline Daily Tracker Poll shows little shift in the race for the Presidency, but a continued lead for the Democratic contenders.

In today's Poll, Obama-Biden is at 47%, McCain-Palin is at 41%, with 10% of voters undecided.

General Election Ballot: McCain-Palin v. Obama-Biden*
September 27-29, 2008

Spotlight on Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm levels for their candidates have been steadily increasing for all voters, showing a 6-point jump from the September 26 Poll (52%) to today's Poll (58%).

Despite this overall increase, GOP voters' reported enthusiasm levels for their candidates have remained relatively flat. Democratic voters, on the other hand, not only display far greater enthusiasm levels for their candidate than their Republican counterparts (69% - 50%), but their levels of enthusiasm have been steadily increasing, from 60% in the September 26 Poll, to 69% in today's Poll.

Enthusiastically Support Candidate*
September 27-29, 2008

Voters who report high enthusiasm for their candidate are far more inclined to say they will vote for Obama-Biden (62%), than for McCain-Palin (38%).

Among Obama-Biden supporters specifically, the proportion of voters who report that they are enthusiastic for their candidate has been steadily increasing (from 57% in the September 26 Poll, to 68% in today's Poll).

Conversely, over the past week, there has been little shift in reported levels of enthusiasm for those who say they will vote for McCain-Palin (from 45% in the September 26 Poll, to 46% in today's Poll).

* data presented in charts based on rolling 3-day average of 900+ interviews concluded the previous day (based on at least 300 interviews conducted daily).

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