The two party conventions and the trend of recent events has moved America more toward the Republican Party than it has been at any time this year, according to the latest data from the Fox News survey. While the nation is still in a Democratic mood, the trend is less than it has been during this entire election season.

The most dramatic manifestation of this reversal is, of course, in the head-to-head ballot test of McCain vs. Obama. While Fox News had Obama ahead 42 to 39 on Aug. 19-20, 2008, its poll on Sept. 8-9 shows McCain ahead by 45 to 42. Obama hasn't changed, but McCain has moved up six points.

It's way too early for slight changes in the head-to-head ballot test to matter, but there has been a basic trend away from the Democratic Party in recent months. On April 28-29, 2008, 44 percent of all voters said they were Democrats, while only 30 percent said they were Republicans. That 14-point gap in favor of the Democrats closed to a 9-point gap at the end of July and collapsed to only 7 points by Sept. 8-9, 2008. Now, 41 percent say they are Democrat, while 34 percent identify themselves as Republican. It is still a Democratic year, but by only half as much as it was four months ago.

And the Democratic edge on issues has eroded somewhat in the past few months.

At the end of July, voters trusted the Democrats better to handle the economy by 11 points — 47 to 36. Now the Democratic lead on the economy has dwindled to only four points — 46 to 40.

On Obama's signature issue, the war in Iraq, voters trusted the Republicans to handle it better by 52 to 39 in early September, compared with only a 46-40 advantage in mid-June.

The two conventions also sparked a Republican gain on the energy issue. Asked which party they trusted more to achieve energy independence, the Democrats saw a lead of eight points before the conventions dwindle to only two points now.

Sarah Palin has had a lot to do with the shift. Asked to say which candidate made the smarter choice for vice president, voters answered that McCain did in choosing Palin by 50 to 40. Key to Palin's popularity is the sense that she understands the problems of the average person. Asked which of the four candidates for president and vice president best "understands the problems of day-to-day life in America," Palin finished first with 33 percent, Obama second with 32 percent, McCain third with 17 percent and Biden last with 10 percent — a combined 50-42 margin for the Republican candidates.

By attacking Palin, the Democrats have gone overboard and maximized her influence on the election. Asked if Palin had been the object of sexist attacks in the media, 45 percent said yes, compared to only 33 percent who felt that Obama had been victimized by racist attacks.

The more the Democrats and the media pour incoming fire on Palin, the more they polarize themselves as sexist and elitist, two things you don't want to be in today's America.

But perhaps the worst news in this survey for Obama is that when asked whom they would consult for advice if they faced the "toughest decision of your life," voters chose McCain over Obama by 50 to 34. If the toughest decision is who to vote for for president, McCain can take comfort in this finding.

To find out more about Dick Morris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 DICK MORRIS AND EILEEN MCGANN

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