Dog owners dig McCain

In the latest round of serious reporting on the presidential election, the Associated Press has taken upon itself to find out how pet owners feel about the presidential candidates.

The news looks good for McCain, who is a devoted pet-owner, and less great for Obama, who has simply promised his daughters a dog once the election ends. Pet owners, who make up 63% of American homes, favor McCain over Obama 42 % to 37%. Dog owners are especially ardent for McCain (43% to 34 %), while cat owners display a more ambivalent enthusiasm (41% for McCain and 38% for Obama).

Talking Points Memo ridicules the poll. Wonkette says it all makes sense: "Obama owns no pets because he hates domesticated beasts. But ... John McCain owns a 'veritable menagerie' of creatures. Sexy!"

AP's detailed analysis finds that the dog owner demographic favors McCain. Dog owners tend to be married and white --- two categories that tend to support McCain. If the prevailing stereotypes are any indication, cat owners tend to be neurotic and embittered single females --- a demographic that, according to CNN, "could be for the Democrats what evangelical voters were for the Republicans in the last presidential election."

But as CNN also notes, single females are less likely to vote. Do dog owners display more political fervor? Dog Politics attempts to mobilize "a new breed of voter" - one that is conscious of the political debates that affect dog-lovers. The site is complete with a category for Politicians Who Get It and yet more riveting polls: "Would you vote for a candidate that supports breed-specific mandatory spay-neuter?"

No word on that issue from either the suddenly humanized, "more compassionate…. caring, giving, trustworthy," pet-owning McCain, or the animal-loathing Obama.