Obama Nominated Against Backdrop Of Troubling New Poll

Illinois Senator Barack Obama is now officially the Democratic nominee for President and historically the first African-American to head a major political party’s Presidential ticket. But the nomination came against a poll that will rain on the Democratic convention parade indicating Obama is losing the support of conservative Democrats.

The nomination took place with chief rival Sen. Hillary Clinton — who ran an equally-historical campaign — playing a key and symbolic role:

Sen. Hillary Clinton asked to cut the roll call short saying, “With eyes firmly fixed on the future, and in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together with one voice right here, right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president.”

“Is there a second?” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California asked the crowd of more than 4,400 delegates.

Delegates then affirmed Obama as their choice with cheers.

“The motion is adopted,” Pelosi said with a broad smile, officially capping a long and hard-fought battle between Obama and Clinton.

There were hugs and handshakes as “Love Train” blasted from the arena speakers.

But there are signs the tracks on the “Love Train” are increasingly wobbly, according to a new Gallup poll:

Within the Democratic Party, Obama’s losses are primarily evident among the relatively small group that describes its political views as conservative. The 63% of conservative Democrats supporting Obama over McCain in Aug. 18-24 polling is the lowest Obama has earned since he clinched the Democratic nomination in June. At the same time, there have been no similar drops in support for Obama in the preferences of liberal or moderate Democrats.

As a result of this, support for Obama among all Democratic registered voters fell from 81% in early August (Aug. 4-10) to 78% last week (Aug. 18-24). Obama’s support from Republicans over this period also dipped from 9% to 7%, while 42% to 43% of independents have consistently supported him.

Not a good omen. And next week the GOP has its convention, but don’t look for the party to lose one second in staying on message about Obama…the same message that has apparently worked if you look at Obama’s steady slide in the polls. And it is a big slide:

The 78% of Democrats backing Obama from Aug. 18-24 ties for the lowest seen since early June. The 7% of Republicans for Obama is the lowest to date (since the start of Gallup Poll Daily tracking of the Obama-McCain race in March).

Could Hillary Clinton’s speech and unity-seeking symbolic role in the roll call vote help gain some of those Democrats back? Democrats — above all — will be watching the convention. Will Bill Clinton, Biden and Obama help reassure them? It’s a “given” Biden and Obama will be trying to do so and Bill Clinton (stay tuned…)…