VANCOUVER, B.C. - Barring the unforeseen, Sen. Barack Obama will be elected as the 44th president of the United States, says the president of Canadian polling firm Harris Decima.
Bruce Anderson said with Obama pulling away in most national polls, there's little evidence to suggest that the Democratic party candidate's campaign will be undermined by anything, including a reluctance by some voters to elect an African-American president.
""You can't look at all of the polls and still find much to substantiate this idea that this race is closing, that (Republican Sen. John) McCain really has an opportunity to vault past Obama," Anderson said.
"It could happen. But at some point, somebody needs to put some evidence on the table to substantiate that point of view rather than simply say, well it feels like people won't vote for an African-American."
Anderson says of the last seven national polls he's seen, only one had McCain with more than 44 per cent support, while only one had Obama with less than 51 per cent.
He says Obama appears poised for victory in many so-called battleground states that are crucial for any presidential hopeful's chances.
"Four of the last four Florida polls show Obama leading. Ohio, we all see that as a critical swing issue. Four of the last four Ohio polls show Obama leading. Pennsylvania, five of the last five Pennsylvania polls show Obama leading," Anderson said.
"So those results mean, if that is what happens, that McCain cannot win."
Anderson says the unbridled enthusiasm of Obama's supporters should be enough to put the Illinois senator over the top.
"Sixty eight per cent of Obama voters say I'm very enthusiastic. That's a massive, massive number. Forty one per cent of McCain's voters say that about their man," said Anderson.
Anderson said polls show Canadians support Obama over McCain by a 6-to-1 ratio.
He said Canadians generally tend to align themselves with the Democratic candidate in U.S. presidential elections, but that Obama's call for an end to partisan politics has resonated north of the border.
