Economic collapse muted the display of Mccain's electoral strength. All pre-Lehman polls indicated Mccain to be a stronger candidate in swing states than Romney 2012.
Romney's economic positions actually hurt him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF9ndn-R1_I&t=126s
This is the day Lehman collapsed (so polls before this day had to be compiled for this map). Mccain was doing far better than Romney ever did in 2012 at this point.
Even in the period following the first 2012 debate?
Yep. Romney was still losing Nevada and Ohio (two states Mccain was leading in), while being tied in Virginia, Colorado, Florida (Mccain doing a bit better in all of these states, with florida leaning for Mccain). Oregon and Washington were never even competitve for Romney (Mccain had closed to single digits), and Mccain was polling better in MN, MI, and even WI. Romney was never ahead of Obama, even at this best.
