According to the Zogby poll, McCain is leading over Obama by 5 points, when you’d expect the Obamessiah to be in the lead at this point.

From the end of July, Newsmax: Obama’s Trip Backfires; McCain Surges to 4-Point Lead in USA Today/Gallup Poll

From 8/20 at the Hill:

The Reuters/Zogby poll showed the Arizona senator taking a five-point lead over his Democratic rival. That lead, perhaps most surprisingly, was due in large part to voters polled who gave the Arizona Republican the edge in handling the economy.

The new poll, which will likely only add to increasing Democratic jitters, comes after a sustained attack effort by McCain and just after a weeklong vacation for Obama (Ill.).

September 6, 2008 Newsmax: Zogby: McCain-Palin Got ‘Small Bounce’ After Minn.

McCain’s favorability rating increased from 50% favorable last week to 57% favorable now, a significant jump that indicates the GOP convention was a success. Among independent voters, 61% now have a favorable impression of him, compared to just 49% who said the same a week ago.

Nearly half – 49% - said they had a favorable opinion of Barack Obama, while 50% they had a negative impression of him. Among independent voters, 47% gave him favorable marks, compared to 46% who said the same thing last week.

Do you think the attacks on Palin and her family are helping or hindering McCain’s campaign?

It seems to me that it’s an eleborate campaign against McCain that’s backfiring big time.