Barack Obama and John McCain are tied at 46 percent each with 8 percent undecided in a Newsweek poll conducted Sept. 10-11. The margin of error is 3.8 percent. They run evenly among independents. Obama had led by 3 points in this poll in July. A little ominously for Obama, 77 percent of former Hillary Clinton supporters are supporting him, but 16 percent say they will back McCain. The survey also shows McCain gains on the issues of the economy, energy and Iraq.
McCain leads among white voters by 55 percent to 37 percent. White evangelicals and white Catholics back McCain by margins of 47 percent and 26 percent respectively. Obama leads among non-whites by 75 percent to 17 percent.
The most important factor in the campaign for Obama supporters is ability to bring about change followed by his positions on the issues. For McCain backers, three factors rank about equally - positions on the issues, experience and leadership. Voters overall say by 51 percent to 27 percent that Obama is the more likely to bring change.
The economy ranks as a far more important issue to Obama voters than it does for McCain supporters: 55 percent of Obama backers cite it compared to 23 percent of McCain supporters. The same is true for Iraq, cited by 15 percent of Obama supporters but only 5 percent of McCain backers. After the economy, the top two issues for McCain supporters are taxes and government spending, and terrorism and national security.
On who would do a better job on various issues, the results were:
- Economy: Obama 49, McCain 40, a 16-point net gain for McCain since Newsweek's June poll.
- Iraq: McCain 51, Obama 41, a 16 point swing in McCain's favor since June.
- Energy and gas prices: Obama 44, McCain 42, a 12 point gain for McCain.
- Terrorism and national security: McCain 56, Obama 34.
- Health care: Obama 50, McCain 35.
- Taxes and government spending: McCain 48, Obama 42.
- Social issues (abortions, guns, same-sex marriage): McCain 43, Obama 42.
Other findings:
- Voters say by a bare 47 percent to 46 percent margin that Obama has enough experience to be President. They say by 46 percent to 45 percent that Sarah Palin does not have the experience to be President.
- Consistent with most polls, Obama beats McCain 49 percent to 36 percent on the question of "cares about people like you" and 49 percent to 37 percent on bringing about change.
- McCain wins 54 percent to 37 percent when voters were asked whose judgment they would trust most in handling an international crisis.
- Obama leads 48 percent to 37 percent on the ability to bring the country together while McCain leads 46 percent to 38 percent on the ability to get things done.
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In running the sleaziest campaign since South Carolina in 2000 and standing by completely debunked lies on national television, it's clear that John McCain would rather lose his integrity than lose an election.
Posted by: politicjock
| September 13, 2008 1:53 PM
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