I don’t believe that 9.5 million people were so demoralized by polls that they stayed home instead of voting for McCain/Palin.
They were demoralized by McCain being the nominee.
Only an idiot can be demoralized by a poll. If I saw the polls looked bad it would encourage me to vote and bring family and friends with me.
"Real leaders don't follow polls. Real leaders change polls"
I suspect they did not vote for McCain because they did not like him. Me, I held my nose. That there told me he'd lose.