Poll: Obama Leads; Interest In Debate High

CBS/NYT Survey Finds Obama Leading McCain By 5 Points With Three In Ten Uncommitted; Majority "Very Likely" To Watch Debate

(CBS) 
The Economic Crisis:

Americans are divided about whether or not the government should provide assistance to Wall Street companies. Forty-two percent approve of the government’s plan to give money to financial institutions to help them get out of the financial crisis, while 46 percent disapprove.

The sentiments cross party lines - 43 percent of Republicans approve, as do 41 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of independents. Americans making $75,000 or more are more likely to approve of the plan.

When told specifically that the Bush administration's plan would provide $700 billion to financial service companies that have made extensive bad investments, lost money and are in danger of going bankrupt, four in ten don’t know enough about it to express an opinion. Among those with an opinion, views are more negative than positive. Just 16 percent think it’s a good idea, while more than twice as many, 38 percent, think it’s a bad idea.

Nearly half of those surveyed blame bad management by banks for the crisis, while 27 percent blame lack of government supervision and 17 percent blame a combination of the two. Republicans are more apt than Democrats to blame poor management instead of poor government oversight.

More then four in ten Americans think there is too little regulation of business, a figure that is higher than in previous CBS News Polls. Roughly two in ten say there is two much regulation, while 18 percent say there is the proper amount.

Even 34 percent of Republicans think the government regulates business too little these days.

A majority of Americans support a proposal, put forth by some Democrats, to help homeowners having trouble paying their mortgages as part of the government program to help Wall Street. Roughly one in three oppose such a proposal.

More than half of voters say that the economy and jobs are the issues that will be most important in deciding which candidate to support for president, up four points from ten days ago. Terrorism and national security is a distant second, at 11 percent, followed closely by gas prices and energy, health care and the war in Iraq.

Among voters who say the economy will be the most important issue in their vote, Obama has a nearly twenty percentage point lead over McCain.

Just 17 percent of Americans say the condition of the economy is even somewhat good; zero percent think it is very good. Nearly half say the economy is in very bad shape, the highest percentage ever in a CBS News Poll. Seventy percent of Americans say the economy is getting worse, while just 2 percent say it is improving.

Nearly half of homeowners claim to have been affected by falling house prices, and 48 percent of homeowners with mortgages are concerned about being able to pay their mortgages.

One in 5 Americans say that overall they are having trouble making ends meet, and just under half are just getting by.

Foreign Policy And The Campaign:

Americans are divided on their views about Iraq: Forty-six percent say things are going well there, while 51 percent say things are going badly. McCain voters are significantly more likely to view the situation in Iraq positively than Obama voters.

President George W. Bush's approval rating when it comes to foreign policy remains low. Just 26 percent approve of how Mr. Bush is handling foreign policy, while nearly two in three disapprove.

Fifty-eight percent of registered voters think McCain would generally continue the president's foreign policies. One in three say he would move in a different direction.

More Americans today volunteer Iran as a serious threat to the United States than any other country. Iran was cited by 21 percent of those surveyed, followed by China at 12 percent, Russia at 8 percent, and Iraq at 6 percent.

In April 2003, after U.S. forces seized Baghdad, Iran was chosen by virtually no one: The top country then was North Korea, cited by 39 percent, which in this survey was cited by just 4 percent of respondents.

Just one in ten Americans believes Iran requires military action now, however; sixty-one percent say the threat posed by the country can be contained with diplomacy.

Nearly three in four Americans say it is a good idea for the president to meet with leaders of unfriendly nations; 20 percent say it is a bad idea.

Only 15 percent of Americans believe the United States should try to change a dictatorship to a democracy when it can. A slim majority of those surveyed think the U.S. will be safer in the long run if it stays out of other countries’ affairs in the Middle East.

Forty-four percent of Americans say the troop surge is making things better in Iraq, down 6 points from last week. Eleven percent say the surge is making things worse, while 33 percent say it is having no impact.

Majorities of Americans believe that the United States did not do the right thing by going to war with Iraq and that the Bush administration focused too much on Iraq over Afghanistan. Fifty-five percent of Americans believe things are now going badly in Afghanistan, while 31 percent believe things are going well. Assessment of how things are going for the U.S. in Afghanistan has deteriorated dramatically in the last seven years.

[dicktracy200]

I am writing this message to inform people of the injustice being perpretrated by Fox News against Barack Obama. For the past two weeks there has been nothing but negative reporting against senator Obama by the Fox News network, which is unfair to listeners and the candidate. This networks seemingly biased opinions are not of interest to us viewers. My concern is that negative reporting like this will influence voters that are undecided of which candidate best express their wishes. I depend on these news stations for fair, accurate and just reporting regardless of the outcome whether it be a debate or any other current event and if that cant be accomplished I feel that it is grounds for that station (Fox News network) to be boycotted until they learn and understand that those types of injustices will not be tolerated. If anyone else can relate to the unfair reporting of Fox News I suggest that you join us in a boycott of this news station. PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG.

[truthislife1]

If Barack institutes the mandatory draft, I''ll go. I''m 42 and fat, need to work off all those donuts for a good reason.

[sy80]

Has anyone heard that the schools in northern illinois are boycotting & refusing to go to their own schools? Yet Barack keeps saying we need to put more money into education.How about getting rid of some of the worthless teacher that are in charge of these kids. Yes everyone deserves an education but they need to find out what it is that makes 45% of the high schoolers in this nation drop out. Don''''t just keep putting good money into a corrupt system that is going nowhere for the kids.Posted by kimmyjo4



What about the state of Arizona allowing sick perverts to build compounds for polygamist. The women dont even go to school and are pregnant by a 60yr old man before their 14th birthday. Now, that is sick and these men are filthy rich and dont even pay a penny in taxes. They say its a tradition. Sounds like a bunch of conservatives.

[veteran22]

McCain continuously referred to Obama as Naive - but naive is advocating naked aggression in Iraq, alienating every ally we had, toppling Iraq''s government, expecting to be hailed as conquering heroes, have no plans for what is to replace that government, declare the war won, still killing and dying 5 years later, no end in sight, and then proclaim good judgment because a massive influx of troops tamped down the violence a little bit. That''s how I would define naive, no excuse me that is how I define idiocy.

[justtheone]

Is there any in depth coverage around of McCain''s involvement with the Keating 5 and the S&L bailout years ago? If no one''s clearing this up, why the heck are we all excited about McCain''s involvment with the current economic crisis? Any links or leads to stories from major publications I can cross reference?

[deepstorage]

So glad that McCain pointed out that he is now against torture after his backing off andcompromise with Bush. I was a McCain fan until that point in 2006.

[kimmyjo4]

Has anyone wondered why congress has not pushed whatever deal it wants thru when they are the majority and don''t need the republicans for anything.They just don''t want to be the ones that look bad if whatever they decide falls flat. They want the republicans in on it also so if it does go bad they can blame it on them as usual.

[kimmyjo4]

Has anyone heard that the schools in northern illinois are boycotting & refusing to go to their own schools? Yet Barack keeps saying we need to put more money into education.How about getting rid of some of the worthless teacher that are in charge of these kids. Yes everyone deserves an education but they need to find out what it is that makes 45% of the high schoolers in this nation drop out. Don''t just keep putting good money into a corrupt system that is going nowhere for the kids.

[iowa-jay]

Could any McCain-Palin supporter please comment on these videos? Please!

John McCain''s BIG LIES:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Then there is unrepentant liar Sarah Palin:
www.youtube.com/watchv=1Tc7BF_Fd7I
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHp5AQiMqew

And, these Alaska Independence Party videos say it all:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmYqRfp6-x8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Re0vmbtHK8

Todd Palin a AIP member 1995-2002. She regularly attends their conventions...this is not just casual support...

Joe Vogler, founder of the AIP once said, "The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American Government, and I won''''t be buried under their damned flag!" Listen for yourself. See palintruth (dot) org for more. Vogler was killed procuring plastic explosives....

Tim McVeigh would be proud !

McCain accepted the endorsement of anti-Catholic Pastor Hagee, before he rejected it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNi7tPanUA

McCain-Palin are nuts !

[babooph]

One time I wished for John instead of George[still feel correct on that],BUT one time I also wanted Bridget Bardot,& now.....

[iowa-jay]

Could any McCain-Palin supporter please comment on these videos? Please!

John McCain''s BIG LIES:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Then there is unrepentant liar Palin:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tc7BF_Fd7I
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHp5AQiMqew

And, this Alaska Independence Party video says it all:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmYqRfp6-x8

More Palin AIP video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Re0vmbtHK8

Todd Palin a AIP member 1995-2002. She regularly attends their conventions...this is not just casual support...

Joe Vogler, founder of the AIP once said, "The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American Government, and I won''t be buried under their damned flag!" Listen for yourself. See palintruth (dot) org for more. Vogler was killed procuring plastic explosives....

Tim McVeigh would be proud !

McCain accepted the endorsement of anti-Catholic Pastor Hagee, before he rejected it:

Listen to this -- shocking !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNi7tPanUA

McCain-Palin are nuts !

[kenwonobi]

Obama wins the debates because Mc Cain couldnt prove that Obama wasnt ready to be President and he clearly showed Mc Cain he is. That is all Obama had to do to beat Mc Cain because that is all people question about him for being hesitant not to vote for him. Now some say he bested Mc Cain in the debates. Some say it was even and when it is even it means Mc Cain lost because Obama proved he could stand up to his experience factor to be President. Now there is no reason not to vote for him unless you are a conservative, racist, or a depression era loving billionare who profits from the trickle down economy of Republicans.

[rss21]

For Obama to say that he wants to talk to some Muslim extremist without a pre-condition sounds naive on several levels. One is being he does not understand that these extremist do not listen to reasoning or diplomacy.
Then Obama contradicts himself by saying that if Pakistan does not listen then he will take them out. This shows his very little knowledge about that part of the world. He does not understand Pakistan''s current or previous condition. I wonder how much world knowledge he has when it comes to Islam and these extremist. Without understanding their culture and way of life, one cannot make a sustainable change.
Obama has no military experience and you want to leave our foreign policy decisions to him - who wants to make peace with his speech with those people who do not care to listen?

[rss21]

If you are questioning Palin''s experience as 2nd in command then you also need to question Obama''s limited experience to be 1st in command.

It is about time we see a woman help make the decisions. Most of you have a problem with Palin because she is a woman. I bet that you guys are the same bunch who did not vote for Hilary Clinton.

[rss21]

Paline is doing the right thing and saving her speech for when it is her turn.

Biden looks like a cheer leader and yes man to Obama. Obama could not say anything to save himself in this debate so he needed a more mature person to cheer him on. Where as McCain held his own and did not need need 2nd in command to validate his speech.

[iowa-jay]

Could any McCain-Palin supporter please comment on these videos? Please!

John McCain''s BIG LIES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Then there is Palin. This Alaska Independence Party video says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmYqRfp6-x8

Todd Palin a member 1995-2002. She regularly attends their conventions...

Joe Vogler, founder of the AIP once said, "The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American Government, and I won''t be buried under their damned flag!" Listen for yourself. See palintruth (dot) org for more. Vogler was killed procuring plastic explosives....

Tim McVeigh would be proud !

McCain accepted the endorsement of Pastor Hagee, before he rejected it:

Listen to this -- shocking !

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=4qNi7tPanUA&feature=related

McCain - Palin are nuts !!!

[kimmyjo4]

to maof4brats where did you read anything about torture? I just think Barack Hussien Obama associates with too many shady people in Illinois. And people should be prudent & use their computers to find out more about them.Then ask yourself what kind of people would it be that he puts in power with him if he became prez

[leftyintexas]

Palin is a no show because she is too stupid to answer simple questions that she should be able to handle as an ''experienced politician.'' She will go back to being the ''hockey mom'' she always was after the elections.

[leftyintexas]

McCain''s only hope is that ALL the old white conservative men show up at the polls on election day, then he might stand a slim chance. I doubt it.

[rosesmarket]

Where is Sarah Palin???
Following the debate, I saw Joe Biden speak on each of the networks after the debate. It was reported McCain refused to have her speak to the news organizations after the debate. Each said Sarah Palin refused to take advantage of this golden opportunity to reinforce the message conveyed by McCain.

Why wouldn''t you take advantage of this opportunity? If she is not competent enough to speak before the media, she certainly is not competent to be second in command of this country.

I am sure that during her debate, she will be scripted, but her lack of visibilty says more than her scripted words will.

In watching the debate, I thought the differences of the candidates positions came out clearly with respect to foreign policy. I been actively involved in global business for the last 15 years, and have never seen America, which I consider the greatest nation in the world, viewed so poorly outside the US. It is clear that Obama will give us the only chance to be recognized as a great country again. McCain''s foreign policy tactics will keep us down the same path while Obamas understanding of strategic relationships are open an not fixed to new ideas.