Dems Prefer Obama by 10, High Negatives for Clinton

April 16, 2008 8:45 AM | | Comments (0)

Barack Obama has a 51 percent to 41 percent lead over Hillary Clinton when it comes to who Democrats would like to see win the nomination, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted April 10-13. But perhaps the most damaging news for Clinton is how negatively she is now seen.(Here's the Post story, and for you data hounds, here's the raw poll.) The poll, which has a 3 point margin of error,represents a 3 point gain for Obama since the beginning of March. A Gallup daily tracking poll yesterday also had Obama up by 10.

Clinton is seen unfavorably by 54 percent of voters compared to 40 percent who have a positive view, compared to the 58 percent who regarded her favorably in January. Obama is looked on favorably by a 56 percent to 39 percent margin, while John McCain has a 53 percent to 40 percent rating. The favorability numbers for Obama and McCain have also slipped, but not as precipitously as for Clinton. When Democrats were asked which of their candidates was more honest and trustworthy, they chose Obama by 53 percent to 30 percent. Obama's lead over Clinton on this measure in January was 38 percent to 30 percent with John Edwards, then still in the race, getting 16 percent.

Forty-one percent of Democrats said the tone of the campaign has been negative and, when asked who was more to blame, they answered Clinton by a 52 percent to 14 percent margin.

In general election match-ups, the poll shows a close contest with McCain facing either candidate. Obama leads him 49 percent to 44 percent while McCain leads Clinton 48 percent to 45 percent.

Clinton outpolled Obama on two questions when it came to voter assessments of their characteristics and abilities. Two-thirds thought Clinton had better experience to be president and she was ranked above Obama as the stronger leader, although by only 49 percent to 44 percent.

But Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin said they believed that Obama had the better chance of being elected. They said, 56 percent to 35 percent, that he would do more to bring “needed change” to Washington. And 46 percent said he better understands the problems of people “like you” compared to 41 percent.

Some other findings of the poll:

  • Both candidates polled about the same when Democrats were asked if they would definitely or probably vote in November for whoever won the nomination. (Sixty percent gave a “definite” or “probably” for each.
  • Forty-nine percent of Democrats said that Clinton and Obama were arguing about things that weren’t important compared to 45 percent who said they were “discussing real issues.”
  • If the convention’s choice comes down to the superdelegates, 46 percent of Democrats think they should side with the candidate who won the most overall votes in the primaries and caucuses, 37 percent said they should pick the candidate who they thought best and 13 percent said they should pick the candidate who won the most delegates during the campaign.
  • If Clinton loses in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Democrats think she should stay in the race by a 55 percent to 43 percent margin. Obama leads him 49 percent

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