Poll: Equal Numbers Say Obama And McCain Have Qualities Necessary To Be President
Some new poll numbers from CNN show that John McCain is besting Barack Obama on who would best handle foreign policy (54%-43%), while Obama is ahead on who would best handle the economy (50%-44%).
That's not terribly surprising. But there's another interesting number buried in here.
The poll also finds that roughly the same percentage think that each candidate has the "personality and leadership qualities a President should have." Sixty three percent agree that Obama has these qualities, while 66% say McCain does -- within the margin of error.
This suggests that the McCain camp has lots of work to do in carrying out its primary game plan of portraying Obama as somehow inherently unfit for the office, as opposed to winning the argument on the issues, which the GOP is obviously not in a very good position to do right now.
Why do so many people think McCain would be good on foreign policy? Seriously?
That's a myth that the Obama campaign and the DNC need to puncture.
June 12, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, it's completely insane.
June 12, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know. It boggles my mind how the voters can't see that basically every one of his gaffes is foreign-policy related. I could list them all, but we all know them and I'm way too lazy right now.
June 12, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
It certainly doesn't help to hear pundits in the media mindlessly repeat the meme that John McCain is stronger on foreign policy.
June 12, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama campaign's continued willingness to wage battle openly on favorable McCain territory is a good sign. Clearly, they understand this perceived strength needs to be deflated. The general electorate isn't paying attention yet, and won't be for some time. Now is the time to keep up the attacks, keep McCain on his toes, exercise and perfect the tone and substance of your criticism of McCain. I'm mostly encouraged by Obama's efforts thus far.
June 12, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
They only polled 900 people! That's ridiculous. I know that's what they do, but the model needs to be updated. It is not a big enough sampling. That's why polls have been crap since, oh, about 2000! These are 900 people who were sitting home by the phone on a weekday, no doubt!
June 12, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN is crap.
June 12, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Susan Rice on MSNBC strongly makes the case
against McCain's judgment and grasp of the facts about Iraq.
She is very good. Watch how she makes the case against McCain.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25106367#25106367
June 12, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
A better link to get directly to the Susan
Rice Interview on MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25106367#25106367
June 12, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama can weaken McCain's standing regarding foreign policy, he'll have an excellent chance of winning.
As it is, I'm quite happy he's besting McCain on the economy right now, considering it's now the #1 concern of voters.
June 12, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Link trouble on MSNBC. Try again. Preview test feature please TPM.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25116393#25116393
June 12, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, anyone singing "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" should automatically be judged unfit to handle ANY foreign policy issues. Not to mention an inability to distinguish Shiite from Sunni. Or which country Putin was the president of. Or...well, you get the idea.
June 12, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
It just goes to show image is everything. Military + Armed Services committee = Foreign Policy genius. I like that Obama is willing to bash him over the head and challenge CW.
I might add that Hillary was clobbering Obama on Iraq back in January- he wound up leading her on that in the end.
June 12, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who do you think will do a better job on the war in Iraq?
McC BHO
5/11/08 45 46
3/2/08 48 43
Just need to keep up the pressure
June 12, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the complexities related to Iraq are difficult to explain to an electorate that mainly gets their news from sound bites and two minute news pieces. This means that when McCain and the Republicans cast Obama as a "cut-and-runner," it sticks because so many people don't bother to spend time learning the facts.
A few weeks ago, I listened to Joe Biden arguing against McCain's Iraq policy, and he was spot on. Biden is one guy who knows his foreign policy. I would love it if Obama spent some serious time with Biden, and others with similar experience, so that he can refine his arguments before the first presidential debate.
If Obama can show, in detail, that he understands foreign policy as Biden lays it out, McCain's only real hope of besting Obama is gone.
June 12, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Part of the problem with McBush retaining the "foreign policy" expertise, is one the pundits who know crap all regarding foreign policy keep repeating this crap, but it's also the fact that Obama says he's going to change our foreign policy. He hasn't yet closed the sale, that in this case, "change" means returning to pre-Bush II U.S. foreign policy.
June 12, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very, very bad news for McLame, whose only conceivably viable campaign "issue" would be the Hillaryesque "experience" bullcrap. I actually thought it would take a debate or two before Obama was percieved as equally "presidential". I think the ancient one is at or near his high point right now. As non-political-junkie voters start actually paying attention (with plenty of help from the superbly run Obama campaign) to exactly who McLame is and what he stands for, his support will only decline from hare. I honestly don't expect this to be a very close election.
June 12, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just wait for the debates. McCain will be exposed as a tottering fool.
June 12, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amazing poll. Especially in light of all the clintons' attacks and her statement that mcbush and her are qualified to be president and obama allegedly isn't. Simply amazing. Maybe the american people are smarter than alot of pundits and pols give them credit for. I hope mcbush uses the clintons playbook like he has been leading to the general. Obama will break 400 electoral votes.
June 12, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, McCain is due to be changing his stance on the Iraqi Occupation with in the next two weeks or so . . . So this poll will be obsolete . . . by month's end.
June 12, 2008 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since percentages are so close, now, do not be surprised to see the Republicans trot out the race card, soon. I know they have already been doing it for some time, but the coming salvos may not be so subtle. And yes, I anticipate that someone will blog that what has already happened was not so subtle. I expect the intensity level, though, to go from that of a measured left jab, in boxing, to that of a malicious right cross.
June 12, 2008 9:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish these pollsters would add a new question:
`whom do you like most?`
June 12, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink