Negative views of the candidates trend political in McCain's case, and more personal in Obama's case, according to the Pew Center survey.
by Mark Silva
There's a difference in the negative views that voters hold about Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. John McCain of Arizona:
With Obama, it's partly personal.
With McCain, it's mostly political.
These are among the findings of a Pew Research Center survey run May 21-25. The poll of 1,505 people found that the Democrat and Republican who appear likely to face one another on the presidential ballot in November "each have distinct liabilities, as well as notable assets:''
-- Obama's favorable rating has slipped from 59 to 51 percent since late February. Most who voice a negative opinion say they dislike Obama's political beliefs, but a considerable minority (32 percent) says his personal attributes are at least partly to blame. White working-class voters are particularly likely to cite the kind of person Obama is for their dim view.
-- McCain, whose unfavorable ratings also have risen during the course of the campaign, draws a greater share of his negative image from those (73 percent) who cite his political beliefs, while fewer mention the kind of person he is (18 percent).
Andy Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, also reports this:
"Obama has a clear advantage over McCain on many of the top issues of the day. Obama is seen as better able to improve economic conditions, deal with the nation's energy problems, and improve the healthcare system. Obama also is favored by a 48 to 34 margin over McCain for reflecting voter views on social issues such as abortion and gay rights.
"McCain has lost his advantage over Obama as better able to handle the war in Iraq. But more voters continue to favor McCain's overall approach to foreign policy and national security. A large minority (43 percent) says Obama is not tough enough on foreign policy, unchanged from February.
"While both leading candidates owe much of their success to support from independents, their images have soured somewhat among this pivotal group of voters. Obama and McCain now run even among independents; in April, Obama enjoyed a 52 to 41 percentage point advantage among independents.
Note this too: Only 18 percent of the public is satisfied with conditions in America today - "an all-time low'' Pew's surveys. ''An overwhelming proportion (88 percent) say the economy is very important in their vote. Roughly three-quarters each name healthcare, jobs, education, energy and Social Security as very important.
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Comments
Are all those rumors I hear about Barack Obama true?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dljboY5t2Dw
Posted by: John E | May 29, 2008 2:55 PM
Obama has been the victim of a scorched earth campaign by a certain desperate woman with questionable integrity. Now a bunch of GOP sleaze mongers spread rumors and false acusations. None of this will stop me from voting for Barack Obama.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | May 29, 2008 3:39 PM
Dear American Voters,
Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences in my professional, political, and personal opinion are as under:
1. Presidential "Temperament and Integrity".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" connectedness.
3. Vision and mission for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies first USA centric than other countries centric.
In my professional opinion one senator has it and the other does not. We need one for our Greatgrand Nation to address our all these challenges with a fresh, clean and new slate.
God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.
Yours truly,
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas NV
Posted by: COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall MD | May 29, 2008 4:10 PM
I agree, but this is POLITICS and people will take a practical look at it and vote their pockets. McCANE is old and so is everything he is talking about.
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Chicagoan and Southsider | May 29, 2008 4:20 PM
Do John McCain or conservative republicans respect the moral foundation of this country? The U.S. Constitution was designed to protect the people of America from misguided government.
U.S. Constitution: Amendment I - Freedom of Religion
Right now, for the first time ever, your tax dollars are funding religious groups you may not agree with. To add insult to injury, conservative judges have ruled that taxpayers do not have a right to challenge this expenditure.
Amendment IV - Search and seizure
Under the guise of court action against abortion, Conservative republicans had John Ashcroft subpoena all the medical records of literally thousands of women just like you and members of your family. Conservative republicans are invading your privacy every day. Unfortunately for all of us, they don't appear to care about our U.S. constitution, or by extension, the people of our great country.
Amendment X - Powers of the States and People
John McCain and conservative republicans have tried consistently to overturn States Laws. They used your tax dollars to destroy the will of the people of Oregon, and the famous "Death with Dignity" law; they lost, but undoubtedly will try again. Conservative republicans and John McCain do not respect States Rights.
Amendment VIII - Cruel and Unusual punishment
Would you rather die, or support a government which supported and sanctioned torture? The founding fathers would rather have died, and in fact they were proud to fight and die for our government: A government which specifically outlaws cruel and unusual punishment for very important reasons.
John McCain and the conservative republicans are destroying the moral foundations of our country. I urge you to keep this in mind in the coming election as we rebuild our nation together by voting Democrat.
Posted by: Frank US | May 29, 2008 4:44 PM
COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas NV
Almost all of us who post here don't lead off with our day/former job titles - why do you?
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | May 29, 2008 5:01 PM
Posted by: COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall MD | May 29, 2008 4:10 PM
Dear Greatgrand [retd] Colonel:
Thank you for reducing the size of your spam. I hope this means that your daily copy-and-pastes will now waste less space.
Yours Truly,
MJ
Posted by: MJ | May 29, 2008 6:39 PM
Since Swamp writer Mark Silva didn't mention in the above article how his man Barack was doing against John McCain in that Pew Poll, you can bet that Silva's man Barack wasn't doing well.
Sure enough, he isn't:
"But when the Illinois Democrat is tested against John McCain in a general election matchup, he now runs about even against the presumptive Republican nominee. Previously, Obama had led McCain by modest margins in three Pew surveys conducted since late February. "
I've never seen a reputed news organization work so hard to hide the truth, as the Swamp does when it comes to Obama.
Posted by: Bruce | May 29, 2008 8:00 PM
White women expect blacks to rally around white female candidates, but when a black candidate wins they abandon the Democratic Party. SOOOOOO typical.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | May 30, 2008 12:20 AM
How would McCain feel if the Obama campain choses to politicize the military issue for his gain as well? He could actually use the military picture to raise fund as well. For instance, he could show to the American people that McCain and some of the republicans do not support veteran with deed. McCain refused to support the bill to increase and guarantee college funding for our veteran coming from Iraq. This bill was introduced by Senator Webb, from Virginia to help our veterans, but not only McCain opposed it but also did not show up to vote for it. However, the Obama campaign took the high ground here.
Posted by: Peter Andre | May 30, 2008 3:18 PM