In contrast to a Fox News poll earlier today that saw Barack Obama's lead narrowing, a New York Times/CBS News poll conducted Oct. 25-29 has Obama still ahead by double-digits, leading 52 percent to 41 percent among likely voters with 5 percent undecided. The margin of error is 3 points. This figure includes "leaners" but the Obama's margin is the same without them. The Fox poll put Obama's lead at 3 points, down from 9 the previous week.
The poll says that Obama had reached several "key thresholds": more than half say he is prepared for the job, nearly half believe in his ability to handle an international crisis, most expect him to be able to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans and most say he understands and cares about them. Obama has also benefited from a surge in early voting.
Another big factor is that 59 percent of voters now say that Sarah Palin is not prepared to be Vice President compared to 35 percent who say she is. That is a 16 point swing to the negative since the beginning of the month.
Forty-nine percent of Obama voters are excited about the prospect of him winning the White House compared to 22 percent of McCain supporters who feel that way about their candidate.
Key points in the poll:
- Voters believe both men could work with the other party, believing that of Obama 70 percent to 26 percent and of McCain by 66 percent to 31 percent.
- Fifty-four percent of voters say Obama's policies will imrpvoe the economy compared to 32 percent for McCain.
- Fifty percent believe Obama will raise taxes "on people like you" compared to 46 percent for McCain. Voters making under $50,000 a year think McCain and not Obama will raise their taxes, while the flipside is true among those making ,more than $50,000.
- Eighty percent say Obama will raise taxes on big business compared to 22 percent who say that of McCain.
- Sixty-six percent believe an Obama administration would increase health care coverage for more Americans compared to 23 percent for McCain.
- Eighty percent say Obama's election will mean less military involvement in Iraq while 56 percent say choosing McCain will mean more.
As most national and state polls are showing, voters say McCain has gone negative far more than Obama in the campaign. Fifty percent say the Obama commercials they saw explained what he stood for compared to 30 percent who viewed them as attacks on McCain. Sixty-four percent regarded McCain's ads as attacks on Obama compared to 21 percent who said he ads explained his positions.
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