Palin Factor: The Race is Close in Newest Polls

Voters have had plenty to digest over the past five days with Barack Obama’s high profile speech (38 million viewers) to the Democratic National Convention. That was followed less than 12 hours later by the leak that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would be John McCain’s running mate for the GOP.

Two polls out today show The Obama Bounce vs. The Palin Bounce has ended with a tight contest.

Rasmussen Reports shows the race at 47% for Obama for 44% for McCain on Monday. The spread is 49-46 when “leaners” are included in the survey.

Palin has been an asset for McCain according to the survey. McCain’s favorable rating is above 50% for the first time at 51% today. McCain’s favorable rating on Friday was 43%.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. Poll has a statistical dead heat. The survey - released Sunday night - has Obama leading McCain 49% to 48%. While that means the Obama speech vs. Palin announcement offset each other (Obama and McCain were tied in the same poll a week earlier) there is some bad news for the GOP.

The poll finds half of those surveyed believe Gov. Palin is not qualified to become president if needed.