(via The Hill's Blog Briefing Room) A new USA Today/Gallup Poll controverts the conventional wisdom that the American electorate trusts John McCain more and would win hands down if the only criteria during the upcoming historic election were character.
Barack Obama is more trustworthy, understanding, caring, independent minded, and would work better with members of the other party than John McCain in the eyes of American voters, a new USA Today/Gallup poll finds.Of course, this election year has been tough on pollsters during the long bruising primary season. And of course this blog has always been extra-tough on pollsters like SWS and Pulse Asia Surveys. But frankly, I'm not sure what to think of this one. I'm beginning to rely more and more on polls of polls and on the new-fangled "futures market" polls.
Gallup asked Americans to compare Obama and McCain on a wide array of personal characteristics, and Obama beat McCain in all but two of the ten categories: who can manage the government more effectively (the two tied at 42 percent), and who is a strong and decisive leader (McCain topped Obama 46 percent to 40 percent).
Obama bested McCain on questions of who understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives (54 percent to McCain's 29 percent); cares about the needs of people like you (52 percent to 30 percent); is independent in his thoughts and actions (52 percent to 36 percent); would stand up to special interests, including those aligned with his own party (48 percent to 34 percent); would work well with both parties to get things done in Washington (48 percent to 35 percent); has a clear plan for solving the country's problems (41 percent to 31 percent); shares your values (47 percent to 39 percent); and is honest and trustworthy (39 percent to 35 percent).
In those categories, Obama averaged a 14 percentage point lead over McCain. The same poll found Obama leading McCain 48 percent to 42 percent in who Americans want to be president.
Gallup surveyed 1,625 Americans over the age of 18 June 15-19 for the poll.
SKEPTICO points to an interesting dust-up between PZ Myers (Pharyngula) and the Discovery Institute's "pet brain surgeon" Michael Egnor. It's about science, religion, cancer and prayer. We've had a similar discusison around here recently, every bit as complex and insightful.DRUDGE has some of the tit-for-tat as John McCain says Obama's word cannot be trusted...
Related: McCain is praised but not endorsed by Billy Graham. And the word flip-flopper has become an equal opportunity accusation.
5 comments:
Yipeee! That's great news isn't it? Yep, your gonna love his foreign policy..I can just tell...if you can figure out what it is before he becomes president (which you actually can, if you read is long, long record on the subject)...well, let's just say that Abu Sayyef (and their Al Qeda and Iranian buddies) are cheering right now too.
The only difference I can see between Obama and McCain is that one is young and the other is old. Other than that, as far as their policy towards the Philippines is concerned, theyre the same. Theyll both work for America's interests, which is what we should expect.
RICHARD,
I was honestly surprised by this report. it's not basically about foreign policy or GWOT.
But what do you think it means? How do you explain it? What's happening in Carolina? Do you think it's true from your own experience and what people you know are saying or thinking?
I am not in the least bit surprised by the polling results. Media collectively has latched on to the Obama bandwagon and your typical voter unfortunately is still informed by this same media. Save for talk-radio, the US blogosphere, and definitely Fox News, the other candidate does not stand a chance.
That is the biggest challenge for McCain and company, how to deliver their message above the din created by media for its favorite candidate. Media that never had sufficiently vetted its favorite candidate and will treat kindly any negative item brought out against him. Obama is the anointed one; he cannot do wrong, or wrong enough as to make the other candidate better than him.
I make a bold unsolicited prediction. Those fly-over states and/or rural America, many times taken for granted or underestimated, will be one of the surprises in the forthcoming elections.
Richard,
A botched war in Afghanistan, a gaping black hole of a distraction in Iraq, and you think the Islamic extremists are rooting for Sen Obama? Bush and his designated heir McCain have been the best recruiters for Al Qaida and the Abu Sayaff! They are praying for a McCain victory! McCain in one speech says I will follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell. The next day he is asked What if Bin Laden is in Pakistan. He says Well that's different Pakistan is our ally. Nyuck Nyuck.
You know how they used to say Marcos was the best recruiter for the NPA? Same thing.
By the way Richard, the ff are all acceptable spellings for Bin Laden's group: al-Qaida, al-Qa'ida, el-Qaida, or al Qaeda. NOBODY ever writes Al Qeda. Hello mababang paaralan ng Babuyan Island! Please try to do some basic research before posting embarassing 5th grade misspellings. You sound like a typical McCain supporter: all bluster, no brains.
Stop embarassing the rest of us.
Bembol
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