John Kerry

2008 is starting to look like 2004 in the Pennsylvania presidential election. A new poll released this morning from Franklin & Marshall confirms other polls that show the Democratic nominee opening up a lead. According to this poll, Barack Obama now leads John McCain 45% to 38%. Towards the end of September - beginning of October is when John Kerry started pulling away from George Bush in 2004. In a mid-September poll in 2004 George Bush lead Kerry 47% to then by the first poll in October Kerry had gained control with a 48% to 41% advantage.

Yesterday's Rasmussen poll showed John McCain was tied with Barack Obama in Pennsylvania at 47%.  A poll earlier this month by Quinnipiac showed Obama with a 48%-45% lead, both within the margin of error.  In August Obama lead McCain 45%-40 in the Rasmussen poll and 49%-42% in the Quinnipiac poll. 

Taking a look at the 2004 numbers from Quinnipiac shows an interesting correlation.  In August of 2004 John Kerry lead George Bush by 47%-42 and then in September Bush lead Kerry 47%-44%.  

Check back tomorrow morning to view my sketchpad for day three of the Democratic National Convention, and go to my national blog to follow convention coverage by cartoonists from around the country.

The third day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday, with a theme of "Securing America's Future."

The day will begin with the nominating process for President, including nominating speeches for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), followed by a roll call vote.

The headline speaker will be vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Featured speakers will include President Bill Clinton (D), U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The full schedule is below.

Hilary Clinton made it well known during her primary campaign against Barack Obama that she was from Scranton and Lackawanna County. Clinton’s “home-roots” helped her with 74% of the vote in the county compared to the 55% she was able to muster state-wide. Obama’s pick of Joseph Biden, who also was born in the region, could go a long ways towards bridging the gap that could have existed from an pro-Hillary area.

Scranton is the state’s 6th largest city and a key battleground area for Democrats. A strong showing in Lackawanna County goes a long way in helping any Democrat win state-wide. John Kerry won Lackawanna County in 2004 with 56% of the vote while winning the state with 51% and Al Gore won the county with 60% and also won 51% in the state.

Check out the winner and runner-ups for this week's Cartoon Caption Contest.

Care to come up with a caption for this cartoon? Click more for the rules and prizes!