* new CBS/NYT poll shows Obama 13 points ahead nationwide
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 24, 2008
CBS/NYT poll …
- Obama now leads McCain 52 percent to 39 percent among likely voters nationwide, roughly the same lead he held last week. Just five percent are undecided, and more than 9 in 10 of each candidate’s supporters say their mind is made up.
- Obama leads among men (50 percent to 41 percent), women (55 percent to 37 percent), moderates (56 percent to 34 percent) and voters who supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries (78 percent to 16 percent). He also leads 52 percent to 42 percent among a group he had difficulty with during the primaries — white working class voters.
- McCain leads among Republicans (83 percent to 11 percent), conservatives (68 percent to 26 percent), white evangelical voters (69 percent to 21 percent) and whites making more than $50,000 per year (48 percent to 43 percent).
- Obama’s lead among independent voters, who have swung back and forth between the candidates, has fallen 12 points since last week – though the Democratic nominee still holds a 45 percent to 39 percent edge among the group.
- Seventy-five percent of registered voters say Obama has the temperament and personality to be president, up 6 points from last week. Nineteen percent say he does not. Only 50 percent say McCain has the proper temperament and personality, while nearly as many – 45 percent – say that he does not.
- Obama holds a dramatic lead on confidence in handling health care, with 69 percent expressing confidence in him and 41 percent expressing confidence in McCain.
- Obama continues to hold the lead on understanding the needs and problems of Americans, with 68 percent saying he understands their needs and 42 percent saying McCain understands.
- Obama holds a wide edge on favorability. More than half of registered voters – 52 percent – have a favorable opinion of Obama, while 31 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him. For McCain, the percentage that views him unfavorably – 46 percent – exceeds the percentage that views him favorably – 39 percent.
- Voters continue to hold a net negative view of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, with 31 percent viewing her favorably and 40 percent viewing her unfavorably. They hold a far more positive view of Democratic counterpart Joe Biden, with 43 percent viewing him favorably and 20 percent unfavorably.
Read the entire poll results at … http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/23/opinion/polls/main4541781.shtml?tag=topStory;topStoryHeadline
