Wed Aug 20, 5:36 PM Pacific • posted by Jed Lewison

McCain = Bush = More of the same

Probably the most important number in the new NBC is poll is the percentage of voters who think that McCain would "follow and support" Bush's policies "very closely."

Here's the trend:

  • 29% - March '08
  • 30% - June '08
  • 32% - July '08
  • 33% - August '08

So the number is getting a little bit better, but it's still below where it needs to be. The good news is that this shouldn't be a tough sell. (a) About two-fifths of voters think McCain would follow Bush "somewhat closely" and (b) it's true.

For all the worry about whether or not McCain's attacks on Obama are working, the real story is that the only reason why McCain has any shot at all of winning this election is that he's been able to keep that number significantly below 50%.