Posted on 02/25/2008 4:10:51 PM PST by jdm
While Hillary Clinton has not found a way to break the consecutive primaries losing streak against Barack Obama, now at 10 or 11 depending on whether one counts the expatriate poll, she has managed to force Obama to talk a little more specifically about policy. That apparently has cost Obama some ground, according to Rasmussen, although not so much against Hillary. His negatives have risen seven points in the last month, and now are ten points higher than those of John McCain:
Thirty-four percent (34%) of all voters say they will definitely vote for John McCain if he is on the ballot this November. Thirty-three percent (33%) will definitely vote against him while 29% say their support hinges on who his opponent is.
Barack Obama has the same number who will definitely vote for him--34%. But, more people are committed to voting against him than McCain. Forty-three percent (43%) say they will definitely reject him at the ballot box. For 18%, their support depends on his opponent.
For Hillary Clinton, 32% will definitely vote for her if she is on the ballot and 46% will definitely vote against. Core opposition to Clinton, the best-known of the candidates as the long campaign season began, hovered in the high 40s through most of the past year.
The excitement of Obama has not resonated across the political spectrum as once thought. While he has undoubtedly gained momentum among Democrats, it has slowed in the general electorate. He has only picked up five points in committed voters while gaining seven points among opposed voters and now has a negative balance.
John McCain, on the other hand, appears to have much more momentum than Obama. He has gained 12 points in the same period, while not adding any opposed voters at all. His balance is a +1, while Obama's is a -7.
The crosstabs show a few surprises. McCain actually does slightly better among younger voters (54%) than Obama (51%), and much better among seniors (44%, 24% for Obama). He does better in the "Other" and "White" ethnic categories, but Obama hasn't locked up as much of the black vote as he'll need. Only 60% say they will definitely vote for him, while 19% say they will definitely vote against him. McCain gets 9% of the black vote -- about what Republicans normally get -- but 37% will wait to see who runs against him, and another 8% aren't sure.
This data looks somewhat different than the media portrayals of a huge national movement coalescing behind Obama. It may be more likely that the activists have turned out in force for Obama, and that the enthusiasm we see now will remain limited to that subset on the Left.
Hildabeast with a smile on her face! Its working!
Wait until people learn how much Obama-nation will raise their taxes.
The average couple making $50,000 will see their rates rise. To fund this man’s “dreams” (of America destroyed).
I am feeling better about the fall, in spite of the prodigious hype.
Will Hillary take the blame if Obama loses to McCain?
Ever since Barry Hussein won the US Senate seat the media has been fawning over all him. He has never been challenged at all. Smiley needs to be exposed for the MArxist he is.
My back was really bothering me, so I started carrying a photo of Obama in my back pocket.
I feel much better now.
The young do not have a long attention span. Those who support him will swoon over the next YouTube star and forget why they even went to an Obama concert.
Thought by whom?
Well finally some good news. Maybe he’s peaked. I know that two liberal friends of mine - they won’t admit that they’re turned off by him but one is talking Gore as the one to be brokered out of the convention and the other is saying he doesn’t like either dem candidate.
The clintoon machine doing some things behind the scenes?
Eeexxxxceelent smithers. Everything is going along according to plan.
The only reason anyone would’ve been worried about the fall is b/c the media did a 2004 replay. The problem is, the media is out of touch with ordinary Americans.
Naah. It’ll all be about how racist whitey is, especially those eeeeevil Republicans.
prisoner6
What do they think of McCain? Would they consider voting for him?
No one as far left as Obama is has ever been elected president.
My liberal friends and acquaintances (I have quite a few as I live in the SF Bay Area and I’m a federal employee in SF) say the opposite: they love both their candidates so much that they don’t really care which one wins; they will support either wholeheartedly.
Two I know were so conflicted that one voted for Richardson and one voted for Edwards, after both had dropped out, because they were equally satisfied with either Obama or Clinton.
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