CBS Poll: Support For Obama Rebounds

In Wake Of Controversy Over Former Pastor, Illinois Senator Builds Lead Over McCain, Clinton

(CBS) 
However, some perceptions of Obama’s qualities have shifted in the last few weeks, and he has lost his edge over Clinton on some past strengths. He is behind both Clinton and McCain on the question of who is tough enough to make the hard decisions a president must. Seven in 10 think both Clinton and McCain are tough enough to make the right decisions a President has to make. Fifty-eight percent say this about Obama.

But more voters, 52 percent, view Obama as the candidate who would unite the country. Slightly fewer now say this about Clinton and McCain is the weakest on this characteristic. Obama has gone down in this measure from February when 67 percent said he would unite the country.

No candidate now has a clear lead when it comes to the candidate who shares the values of most Americans. Sixty percent now say that Obama shares the values of most Americans, but this is down from 64 percent last week, and from 70% a month ago. Four in 10 of those who do not think Obama shares their values say their opinion of Obama has been negatively impacted by the Wright controversy. And most of these voters say Obama distanced himself from Wright for political reasons and not because he really disagreed with his statements.

The poll also asked voters about their opinion of lifting the federal gas tax over the summer, a proposal supported by McCain and Clinton, but not by Obama. Forty-nine percent think lifting the tax is a bad idea, while 45 percent approve of the plan. Most Republicans approve of the idea and most independents disapprove, while Democrats are divided. Americans are also divided on this issue by income: Americans making under $30,000 a year approve of a gas tax “holiday” for the summer, but most Americans making more do not.

The poll also found that many are skeptical of the motives of the public figures that support the idea of a temporary lifting of the federal gasoline tax: seven in 10 think they support the measure mostly to help themselves politically. Even most Americans who approve of the idea think so.

In this poll, Clinton is the candidate most viewed as pandering: Just 34 percent think she says what she believes, while nearly two in three believe she says what people want to hear. For both Obama and McCain, just over half say they say what he believes and four in 10 think they say what voters want to hear.

The debate over the gas tax comes as America’s view of the condition of the national economy reaches new lows. According to the poll, 83 percent think the condition of the national economy is bad - the highest number recorded by the CBS News/New York Times poll since this question was first asked in 1986. Only 16 percent say the economy is even somewhat good, also a record low. The view of the condition of the economy has dropped six points since last week, and it has dropped 22 points since the beginning of the year.

Lastly, the poll found that President Bush’s job approval rating remains at 28 percent, the same as on Wednesday. Mr. Bush’s approval rating has not risen above 30% in over a year.

---

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 671 adults nationwide, including 283 Democratic primary voters, interviewed by telephone May 1-3, 2008. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. The error for the sample of Democratic primary voters is five points.

[pepperwood2]

said last week watch the polls read "OBAMA IN THE LEAD" now my predictions were Obama 45% McCain 49% but, because everyone has this Clinton hate thing going on Obama 97% Clinton 3% I told everyone he was going to make sure the polls had him in the lead...

I concur & you make a good point. Keep us posted. Why didn''t we think of that? Whether they''re right or wrong we need more exit polling details. Such as the price of gasoline an oil on the day of primary. How much Gold rose or dropped. How corn is doing on the commody market. etc. I think there''s common ground here.

[pepperwood2]

I like others thought Hillary had what it takes. She didn''t let us down. She took the low road of bitterly attacking & bashing Obama & Rev Wright and close to a $500,000,000 dollars of contributions and still counting. The Power of Negative Campaigning 101 as taught by Bill & HIllary. Free will offerings accepted at the door.

Bill, Chelsae, Rendell & the Campaign Committee really won. They get paid up front.

After all she is still there for us. That is, for all the Fund Raisers. 35 years experience has PAID off for the Clintons. ITS ALL ABOUT ME. Wheeeeeee this is FUND time. I''m just warming up.

"Don''t forget the Superdelegates are on my side and their not happy that Obama doesn''t know his place." Soooooo Sad what the Clintons & the Old Guard Demos have done to the Democratic Party & its not over yet.

[rowdytexan2]

nYour words are the words of a "fool." If you happen to know anyone more intelligent than you are,(that should be a piece of cake) show them your stupid sentence. Maybe they will correct you so you don''''''''t look like the idiot your are. Go and get your GED, you need it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rufisgufis at 03:16 PM : May 06, 2008

At least I''m not FOOL enough to vote for Obama the Scam!

What''s your problem, a little anal retentiveness???

[mgck59]

Because the people on my job said they wouldn''t vote for Obama if he was the only man running......But, the polls say people JUST LOVE HIM!!!!!

[rufisgufis]

"Obama is a FOOL if he excepts to have any CREDIBILITY WHATSOEVER!"

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 02:37 PM : May 06, 2008
-------------------------------

Your words are the words of a "fool." If you happen to know anyone more intelligent than you are,(that should be a piece of cake) show them your stupid sentence. Maybe they will correct you so you don''''t look like the idiot your are. Go and get your GED, you need it.

[mgck59]

I said last week watch the polls read "OBAMA IN THE LEAD" now my predictions were Obama 45% McCain 49% but, because everyone has this Clinton hate thing going on Obama 97% Clinton 3% I told everyone he was going to make sure the polls had him in the lead....LOL

[rufisgufis]

"Obama is a FOOL if he excepts to have any CREDIBILITY WHATSOEVER!"

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 02:37 PM : May 06, 2008
-------------------------------

Your words are the words of a "fool." If you happen to know anyone more intelligent than you are, show them your stupid sentence. Maybe they will correct you so you don''t look like the idiot your are. Go and get your GED, you need it.

[eddynewhope]

RowdyTexan - You once again betray your ignorance. A state gas tax is not the source of income for transportation infrastructure, and hence, won''t cost the US 300,000 jobs (after Hillary shrieks "jobs, jobs, jobs"). Furthermore, Hillary won''t be able to pass jack sheet with Bush holding the veto pen so it''s a moot point. Moreover, there is not even a windfall tax bill being proposed in either the house or senate so that too is a bold faced lie. I think Hillary put it best: "I don''t put much stock in economists." Sound familiar like G. W. Bush? No - of course not. You don''t think, you just rant and rave hate and fear. Would hate to be you.

[rowdytexan2]

Hahahahaha! Obama''''s still out there touting that the gax tax vacation is scheme, when everybody knows he supported it THREE TIMES in his own state! NOW he claimes it didn''''t work just so he can try to make Hillary Clinton look bad!

Obama also voted for Cheney''''s oil and energy plan allowing US oil companies access to oil on federal lands with basically NO royalties paid to the government for the oil!

THEN he proposes we give $845 billion EXTRA to the Global Poverty ACT, which will have to be paid for with a $.35 to $1.00 additional federal gas tax increase!

Not only that, The Global Policy Act requires that participants ban small weapons, subverting our 2nd Amendment rights!

Obama is a FOOL if he excepts to have any CREDIBILITY WHATSOEVER!

[phillysage]

More exaggerations in favor of Obama, does the media really need to throw him so many pillows and continue to massage his tired feet?
Isn''t the really important news in this poll the fact that Hillary is still seen as the most viable candidate for the Democrats?
Americans are not really gonna end up voting for a guy whose Dad wasn''t even an American and whose Mom was an atheist who only slept with foreigners.

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY CLINTON%u2019S 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BS: The first 15 years she spent in %u201Cpublic service%u201D she worked for the biggest law firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her goal then: make as much money as possible, ethics be damned. Almost forgot her stint working in Goldwater%u2019s campaign for president. Then there was White Water, Travelgate Vincent Foster, et al. Then there was her job working at Wal-Mart where she did an outstanding job of fighting off the workers attempts to organize a union for collective bargaining. And what a disaster her health plan was. When she took the DC Bar exam she failed twice. By then, she was fighting against the %u201CVast right-wing conspiracy.%u201D Stole items from the White House and later gave them back - only because she was caught. The most extensive experience this woman has is serving tea to foreign dignitaries.

And what a detailed LIAR she is: Bosnia, Northern Ireland, NAFTA. You can always tell when she%u2019s lying, her lips move. Claimed to be a New Yorker so she could run for the senate. She has a reputation of being the queen of earmarks and recently secured a 1.5 million dollar earmark awarded to a Harlem minister who endorsed her candidacy for President. She also has accepted more corporate donations than any of the Republican candidates.
Voted to authorize Iraq war; voted to give Bush power to go to war against Iran and praised NAFTA. AND: Do you want an ex-con for a Co-President?

[rufisgufis]

When Bill Clinton came to the White House in1993, Democrats were a congressional majority, with 258 seats in the House. When he left in 2001, they were a minority with 46 fewer seats. There were 30 Democratic governors, when he arrived, 21 eight years later.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found nearly 60 percent of voters think Clinton is dishonest and will lie whenever she thinks she needs to.

[rufisgufis]

When Bill Clinton came to the White House in1993, Democrats were a congressional majority, with 258 seats in the House. When he left in 2001, they were a minority with 46 fewer seats. There were 30 Democratic governors, when he arrived, 21 eight years later.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found nearly 60 percent of voters think Clinton is dishonest and will lie whenever she thinks she needs to.

[rufisgufis]

Obama is leading in number of delegates won;

Obama is leading in number of states won;

Obama is leading in number of popular votes won;

Obama is leading in number of the caucuses won;

Obama is leading in every demographic;

Clinton is leading among the senile;

Clinton is leading among the uneducated;

Clinton is leading among the stupid;

Clinton is leading in number of lies told.

FIGURES DON''T LIE BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE

OBAMA 08

[rowdytexan2]

VOTE FOR A REAL DEMOCRAT, NOT SOME LEFT-WING ISM''''''''IST WITH HIS OWN AGENDA!

We don''''''''t need to switch from the EXTREMISM right-wing to the EXTREMISM left-wing!

We need a president that will work for ALL the people at the same time!

Obama will suck the soul of this country for tax money to support his flim flam economy and whack job ism''''''''s, just like BUSH is sucking the soul out of us for HIS own interests!

[rufisgufis]

HILLARY CLINTON%u2019S 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BS: The first 15 years she spent in %u201Cpublic service%u201D she worked for the biggest law firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her goal then: make as much money as possible, ethics be damned. Almost forgot her stint working in Goldwater%u2019s campaign for president. Then there was White Water, Travelgate Vincent Foster, et al. Then there was her job working at Wal-Mart where she did an outstanding job of fighting off the workers attempts to organize a union for collective bargaining. And what a disaster her health plan was. When she took the DC Bar exam she failed twice. By then, she was fighting against the %u201CVast right-wing conspiracy.%u201D Stole items from the White House and later gave them back - only because she was caught. The most extensive experience this woman has is serving tea to foreign dignitaries.

And what a detailed LIAR she is: Bosnia, Northern Ireland, NAFTA. You can always tell when she%u2019s lying, her lips move. Claimed to be a New Yorker so she could run for the senate. She has a reputation of being the queen of earmarks and recently secured a 1.5 million dollar earmark awarded to a Harlem minister who endorsed her candidacy for President. She also has accepted more corporate donations than any of the Republican candidates.
Voted to authorize Iraq war; voted to give Bush power to go to war against Iran and praised NAFTA. AND: Do you want an ex-con for a Co-President?

[rowdytexan2]

VOTE FOR A REAL DEMOCRAT, NOT SOME LEFT-WING ISM''''''''IST WITH HIS OWN AGENDA!

We don''''''''t need to switch from the EXTREMISM right-wing to the EXTREMISM left-wing!

We need a president that will work for ALL the people at the same time!

Obama will suck the soul of this country for tax money to support his flim flam economy and whack job ism''''''''s, just like BUSH is sucking the soul out of us for HIS own interests!

[rufisgufis]

I was in the audience the day Hillary related her story about her %u201Charrowing%u201D trip to Bosnia. She was no more than thirty feet from me. She appeared to be looking me straight in the eyes. As she told her story I was thinking: What a woman. She laughed (cackled) as she told her story which I thought was somewhat inappropriate. But I was so proud of her and I was prepared to go out and campaign on her behalf. Imagine how insulted I felt when I learned it was all a big lie. Now, several of my friend who were also there have formed a group and are fervently campaigning AGAINST her.

[rufisgufis]

libagent:

Who in dere rite mind be wantin a useless ol woman for president. Posing dere really be a 3am call an Hillary be having a PMS fit or some other femine stuff, den what. It won''t work. She be married and her husband he be old too. Posing he be needing something and she aint around. Maybe he want her to run an errand or fetch something for him. Den what, he have to get the stuff fore hisself?

[rufisgufis]

Forget that her husband is an ex-con, convicted of lying to a federal grand jury, convicted of obstruction of justice, convicted of sexual assault. Forget that he settled other sexual assault cases for over a million dollars, forget that he was engaged in sexual encounters IN the White House with: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman - Ms. Lewinsky. Forget that he in on the campaign trail for his wife and raising the race issue at every opportunity. Forget that he was disbarred and stripped of his right to practice law. Forget that he was the first president IMPEACHED in modern history.

Forget that Hillary voted for the Iraq war. Forget that she voted to authorize Bush to declare war on Iran. Forget that she is now threatening to %u201Cobliterate Iran.%u201C Forget about Hillary%u2019s elaborate lie about dodging bullets in Bosnia. Forget that Hillary supported NAFTA until she began to run for president, Forget that her campaign manager supported a free trade agreement with Colombia that she (wink, wink) didn%u2019t know about. Forget that Hillary signed a pledge not to recognize the Michigan results and is now trying to get the votes counted even though Obama was not even on the list. Forget that Harold Ickes, Hillary%u2019s campaign manager, was on the committee that decided to strip Michigan delegates for voting to early. IN FACT, FORGET BOTH CLINTONS.