Dog could tip balance in McCain`s favor

It seems that whether a presidential candidate has a pet or not can affect how some people view the candidate. From George Washington's foxhounds Drunkard and Tipsy to George W. Bush's terriers Barney and Miss Beazley, pets are a longtime presidential tradition for which the presumed Republican nominee, John McCain, seems well prepared, with more than a dozen.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama, however, doesn't have a pet; he has promised his daughters he`ll get them a dog after the election, whether he wins or loses.

"From an image standpoint, nothing humanizes a candidate more than seeing him lovingly dote on his pet or toss a ball around on the White House lawn," says American Kennel Club spokeswoman Lisa Peterson.

An AP-Yahoo News poll found that pet owners actually favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner.

"I think a person who owns a pet is a more compassionate person — caring, giving, trustworthy. I like pet owners," said Janet Taylor of Plymouth, Mass.

That`s good news for McCain who shares his home with Sam the English springer spaniel, Coco the mutt, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the black and white cat, a ferret, three parakeets and a bunch of saltwater fish.

The poll also found that among people who don't have pets, Obama leads McCain 48 percent to 34 percent.