CBS Poll: Obama Leads McCain

Obama Ahead By Six Points, But Threat Looms Of Many Clinton Voters Planning To Back McCain

(CBS)  Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama holds a six point lead over his Republican counterpart John McCain, a new CBS News poll finds. Obama leads McCain 48 percent to 42 percent among registered voters, with 6 percent of respondents undecided.

The poll contains troubling signs for Obama as he looks to mobilize the Democratic Party behind him following his long and sometimes bitter battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, however.

Twelve percent of Democrats say they will support McCain in the general election. That's higher than the 8 percent of Democrats who defected to President Bush in 2004. Nearly a quarter of Clinton supporters say they will back McCain instead of Obama in the general election.

McCain leads Obama by 8 points among registered independent voters, considered a key voting block in November. The Arizona senator leads Obama 46 percent to 38 percent, with 11 percent of respondents undecided.

---

Read The Complete CBS News Poll On The General Election
Race And The 2008 Election
The President, Economy And Iraq

---

Sixty-three percent of all voters - including more than half of Democratic primary voters - say the length of the Democratic primary battle has hurt the Democratic nominee's chances. Just 27 percent say it has helped the nominee's cause.

Roughly two-thirds of Democratic primary voters think there is a better way: to have a single national primary day instead of the current, staggered timeline.

A majority of Democratic primary voters - 59 percent - say Obama should choose Clinton as his running mate. Clinton supporters are more enthusiastic about the prospect than Obama supporters, who are evenly split on the question of Clinton as a vice presidential pick.

Overall, Obama leads Clinton among Democratic primary voters, though the margin is smaller than last month. Obama leads Clinton 45 percent to 41 percent among the group, down from a 12 point spread last month.

Many voters say former President Bill Clinton’s involvement in his wife's campaign hurt the former First Lady. Thirty-nine percent of all voters surveyed say the former president damaged his wife's campaign, while 23 percent say he helped her.

Views Of The Candidates:

McCain is seen as "very likely" to be an effective Commander-in-Chief by more registered voters than either Obama or Clinton. Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed said McCain is "very likely" to be effective, versus 25 percent for Obama and 22 percent for Clinton. However, a majority says it is at least "somewhat likely" any of the three candidates would be effective.

Obama is seen as caring a lot about voters' problems by 38 percent of registered voters, versus just 22 percent for McCain. Both candidates are seen as sharing values by a roughly even percentage of respondents, 63 percent for McCain and 62 percent for Obama.

Obama has a 41 percent favorable rating - down three percentage points from last month - and a 31 percent unfavorable rating. McCain has a 34 percent favorable rating - up two points from last month - and a 37 percent unfavorable rating.

Obama and other Democrats have repeatedly stressed that McCain’s policies would essentially mean a third term for Mr. Bush. More than four in ten voters believe McCain would, indeed, generally continue Mr. Bush’s policies.

And while about half think McCain would be different from the current President, nearly as many say he will be MORE conservative (21 percent) as think he will be LESS conservative (28 percent).

Sixty-two percent of those asked say McCain's age - he will be 72 on inauguration day - will not impact his effectiveness as president. Thirty percent say it will be an obstacle, while 7 percent see it as an asset.

President Bush:

President Bush's approval rating is at its lowest level to date. Just 25 percent of Americans approve of the overall job Mr. Bush is doing as President, an all-time low for him and among the lowest approval ratings ever recorded for a President.

Sixty-seven percent disapprove of the job Bush is doing - the highest such figure in CBS News polls since he assumed office.

Only Presidents Nixon (24 percent) and Truman (22 percent) have seen polls showing job approval ratings lower than 25 percent during their presidencies, according to Gallup Polls. President Carter’s all-time low was 26 percent.

The Economy And Gas Prices:

Thirty-four percent of Americans cite the economy as their top concern, more than any other issue. That's followed by gas prices, cited as the top concern by 16 percent of those surveyed, the war in Iraq, cited by 15 percent, and health care, cited by 4 percent.

Sixty-five percent say that the recent increase in gas prices has caused them financial hardship - and 36 percent say that hardship is serious. Nearly nine in 10 Americans expect gas prices to go up even further over the summer.

Nearly one in five Americans say their income is not enough to pay their bills. Nearly half of Americans say they are making just enough to pay their bills.

Americans have become slightly more optimistic about the economy than they were in May, though they still remain overwhelmingly pessimistic. Twenty percent of those surveyed say the economy is in good shape, up from 16 percent a month ago. Seventy-eight percent say the economy is in bad shape.

Almost 70 percent of those surveyed believe the economy is getting worse; only 3 percent say it is improving.

Eighty-three percent think the country is on the wrong track - the highest percentage in the twenty-five years since CBS News began asking the question. Just 14 percent say things are on the right track.

The War In Iraq:

Americans are more pessimistic than ever about the prospects for a stable Iraq.

Sixty-one percent say Iraq will never become a stable democracy - the highest number since CBS News starting asking the question in December 2003. Just one third think Iraq will become a stable democracy, and most of them think that will take longer than two years.

Thirty-five percent of those surveyed say things are going well in Iraq, down from 40 percent in April. Sixty-two percent say things are going badly.

Americans would like U.S. troops to come home from Iraq sooner rather than later. 42 percent are willing to have U.S troops remain in Iraq for only a year or less. 21 percent say troops should stay for one to two years more, while 30 percent are willing to keep troops in Iraq longer than two years.

---

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,038 adults nationwide, including 930 registered voters, interviewed by telephone May 30-June 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 registered voters is plus or minus four points.

[sawkur]

In June 1998 at a Republican Senate fund-raiser, McCain told a downright nasty joke making fun of Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.
The fact that McCain had made the tasteless joke was reported in major newspapers, as was the vain attempt by his press secretary to initially deny what McCain had done. But in several major newspapers, the joke itself was kept a secret. When Maureen Dowd penned a column in the New York Times about the joke, she wrote that McCain "is so revered by the press that his disgusting jape was largely nudged under the rug." But Dowd chose not to relay the joke, either.
The joke did appear in McCain''s hometown paper, the Arizona Republic, and the Associated Press did report the joke in full, this is what he reportedly said:
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno."

[nanc12]

obama8years, you might want to use the LATEST poll results, including today''s Gallup:

Gallup Tracking 06/01 - 06/05 4391 RV 46 45 Obama +1.0
Rasmussen Tracking 06/02 - 06/05 1600 LV 48 43 Obama 5.0
CBS News 05/30 - 06/03 930 RV 48 42 Obama 6.0
USA Today/Gallup 05/30 - 06/01 803 RV 47 44 Obama 3.0

[stopthecroc]

Um..this poll is a joke.

If you look at the PDF file in the link provided you''ll see that they polled 930 registered voters.

Republicans %u2013 Reg. Voters 251 = 27%
Democrats %u2013 Reg. Voters 376 = 40%
Independents %u2013 Reg. Voters 303 = 33%

A poll with 40% Democrats and 27% Republicans gave Obama a 6% lead.

Sounds like Senator Obama should be worried.......

...and CBS is up to its old tricks...

[stopthecroc]

Um..this poll is a joke.

If you look at the PDF file in the link provided you''ll see that they polled 930 registered voters.

Republicans %u2013 Reg. Voters 251 = 27%
Democrats %u2013 Reg. Voters 376 = 40%
Independents %u2013 Reg. Voters 303 = 33%

A poll with 40% Democrats and 27% Republicans gave Obama a 6% lead.

Sounds like Senator Obama should be worried.......

...and CBS is up to its old tricks...

[obama8years]

+1.0 LOL
------------------------------
Whats funny is Obama should be smoking Mccain. But as soon as people are finding out about his racist, anti-american, black separitist, Black Liberation and Black Value System, and many of his shady supporters. it is becoming obvious Obama will have a tough time explaining these things away. If nearly impossible.

[obama8years]

Obama is a fraud! He can%u2019t even manage his own church%u2026how is going to manage a turbulent middle-east?

[joecoolswat]

obama8years.....The SAT''s are descriminatory......They descriminate against the stupid!.... and seperate knowledge from ignorance

[francise223]

check out www.larouchepac.com under breaking news section for the May 30 at 4:11pm, "How Soros Financed Obama''s Campaign"Obama''s campaign is a SHAM and he is a phoney!!! Because there are reports now coming out that both the DNC and Obama''s campaign has been bankrolled by billionaire George Soro and his inner circle of millionaires since 2004 for his Senatorial campaign, 2006 to map out his presidential campaign strategy and 2007 when he announced his candidancy. Oh and let''s not forget billionaire Oprah Winfrey''s contributions... Apparently the exact number of super delegates Obama'' needed to ''cinched'' the presumptive nominee status Tuesday was specifically bought by George Soros'' billions that afternoon and evening.Knowing more reports are coming out, can''t help but think this is why both the DNC and Obama decides yesterday to stop accepting special interests contributions? He is a SHAM and a PHONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[francise223]

check out www.larouchepac.com under breaking news section for the May 30 at 4:11pm, "How Soros Financed Obama''s Campaign"Obama''s campaign is a SHAM and he is a phoney!!! Because there are reports now coming out that both the DNC and Obama''s campaign has been bankrolled by billionaire George Soro and his inner circle of millionaires since 2004 for his Senatorial campaign, 2006 to map out his presidential campaign strategy and 2007 when he announced his candidancy. Oh and let''s not forget billionaire Oprah Winfrey''s contributions... Apparently the exact number of super delegates Obama'' needed to ''cinched'' the presumptive nominee status Tuesday was specifically bought by George Soros'' billions that afternoon and evening.Knowing more reports are coming out, can''t help but think this is why both the DNC and Obama decides yesterday to stop accepting special interests contributions? He is a SHAM and a PHONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[obama8years]

BREAKING NEWS LATEST POLL SHOWS MCCAIN AHEAD

Gallup Tracking 05/31 - 06/04 4397 RV 45 46 McCain +1.0

[jegibbons]

GEE! I guess it''s a lucky thing for McCain that those CBS Polls NEVER get it right, huh?

[obama8years]

College ACT SAT tests deemed racist?

Obama what do you think?

At Sunday%u2019s monthly meeting, branch First Vice President Skip McCall said the move by Wake Forest to no longer use the SAT or ACT tests in its admissions process is a victory for the NAACP.

%u201CThis is something the NAACP has been fighting for a long time,%u201D McCall said. %u201CWe have long held the position that these tests are racially, culturally and ethnically biased.%u201D

Wake Forest seems to agree.

The university%u2019s Web site points out %u201C(studies) suggest a possible testing bias against certain minority students.%u201D

According to the site, students may still submit test results. However, %u201Cif they feel that the score does not accurately reflect their academic abilities and they don%u2019t want it included in their application materials, they now have that option.%u201D
The test-optional application process begins in the fall of 2009.
McCall applauded Wake Forest and said the move was %u201Ca significant step toward leveling the playing ground%u201D for minority students.

%u201CWe hope other colleges and universities will follow,%u201D he said.

[dropmasters]

IF YOU THINK THAT OBAMA SUPPORTERS WILL VOTE FOR HILLIARY IN 2012 YOU ARE SETTING HER UP TO FAIL.... IT UPSETS ME TO SEE THAT CLINTON BACKERS ARE WILLING TO SPLIT THE PARTY FOR THEIR PERSONAL INTEREST AND NOT THE COUNTRY....BUT I WILL SAY THIS, THINK HARD BEFORE YOU SWITCH TO MCCAIN. 2012 MEANS THAT MCCAIN HAS FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO SHAPE IT UP. WHO KNOWS IN 2012 IF THE COUNTRY WILL BE IN A BAD POSITION. IT IS EASIER TO GET HER ELECTED AFTER A GOOD IMPRESSION FROM A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT. BUT YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. SO CHOOSE WISELY FOR hILLIARY cLINTONS FUTURE INTEREST. BEING A FALSE DEMOCRATIC OR SWITCHING SUPPORT FROM ONE PARTY TO ANOTHER BECAUSE OF SELFISH AND CRUEL INTENTIONS ONLY MAKES YOU THE VOTER LOOK WEAK WE ARE AMERICANS WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. SERIOUSLY......

D.COOPER
FLORIDA DEMOCRAT & PROUD AMERICAN

[francise223]

What is the common link between Bush and Obama?

As the unifier, they dont'' count votes!!!!

Hillary supporters - vote McCAIN in 08!! There are already 40+ pledged to do so as of yesterday afternoon!!!

[francise223]

What is the common link between Bush and Obama?

As the unifier, they dont'' count votes!!!!

Hillary supporters - vote McCAIN in 08!! There are already 40+ pledged to do so as of yesterday afternoon!!!

[francise223]

HRC supporters go to hillaryclintonsupportersformccain.com! HILLARYCLINTONSUPPORTERSFORMCCAIN.com and thank you! So far 40,000 are on board in JUST 2 DAYS!

[francise223]

HRC supporters go to hillaryclintonsupportersformccain.com! HILLARYCLINTONSUPPORTERSFORMCCAIN.com and thank you! So far 40,000 are on board in JUST 2 DAYS!

[francise223]

Got this email yesterday afternoon!!!

HRC supporters go to hillaryclintonsupportersformccain.com! HILLARYCLINTONSUPPORTERSFORMCCAIN.com and thank you! So far 40,000+ are on board in JUST 2 DAYS!

[hinnis]

Obama, his supporters, the DNC, the party elite, and the mainstream media have conspired to marginalize the millions of Democrats who have voted for Hillary, and they will now be using every trick in the book to "bring the party together" to further their ruthless ambitions. They will want you to forget all about the months of biased press, the biased party elite, the insults, the sexist remarks, and the race-cards. They will want you to forget that the Democratic Party now is the party that stands for disenfranchisement of the voters and the rationalization of racism. They will use any method to persuade you to vote for the man who they have preordained as the Democratic nominee. DON''T FALL FOR IT!
Whether you write-in Hillary, if possible, vote for John McCain, or sit out the election, right now, for the sake of our families and our country, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER to assist in the defeat of the inexperienced, ruthless, deceptive, divisive, racist black liberation theology believing, race card throwing Obama. We can always come back to the Democratic Party if and when they show a desire to respect our participation, and field an acceptable candidate.

[tiredofobama]

Men have obcessed enough about being president of the United States to have a few of them assassinated. They''ve obcessed over being president since they were children. They competed in ruthless backbiting campaigns scandalizing each other, cheating on their campaign funding and their wives, makeing cigar smoking back room deals, held terrible debates yelling at each other, then kissing each other''s behind when they hate each other, and all the while pissing on their constituents, just to get the almighty dollar! They''ve killed millions of people! And they think they''re SANE?

A SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL WOMAN WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND SHE''S LABELED A PSYCHO, BACKSTABBING B***CH by these bloated old bigots feeding their ego''s that they know what''s best for this country!

And look what a mell of hess we''re in right now because of some bloated ego, manifest destiny spewing back room dealing arrogant smart a/s/s inexperienced CRACKHEAD just like Obama!

And you roboturkeys and the DNC expect me to vote for this inexperienced overbloated goofball just like BUSH because they made back room deals to get him nominated, like I OWE them my vote?

Whatta laugh! Too bad you can''t control where I put my vote in the general election, after all this is the United States of America God bless it, NOT God D/amn it! Screw you!