Poll: Obama Maintains Double-Digit Lead
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With just twelve days left until Election Day, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama holds a 13-point lead over Republican rival John McCain, a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows.
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'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.
Obama has been more successful in evoking a positive response from voters: Sixty-two percent say they feel personally comfortable with the Illinois senator. Far fewer - 47 percent - feel comfortable with McCain. In fact, a slightly higher percentage - 49 percent - report feeling "uneasy" about the Republican nominee. Thirty-four percent feel uneasy about Obama.
The Democratic nominee is much more likely to be seen as having the temperament and personality to be president, and he holds a big advantage on handling the economy.
He is widely expected to win the presidency, with likely voters predicting an Obama victory by more than three to one.
Views Of The Candidates
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.
When it comes to confidence in handling a crisis, Obama has a slight edge. Forty-nine percent say they are confident that Obama can deal with a crisis, while 47 percent are uneasy about the prospect. Forty-six percent are confident in McCain to handle a crisis, while 51 percent are uneasy.
In early September, McCain held a large lead on preparedness to be president, with 71 percent saying he is prepared versus 48 percent for Obama. While McCain still holds an advantage on this question, his lead has shrunk. Now 64 percent say McCain is prepared for the job, while 56 percent say the same of Obama.
When it comes to handling the war in Iraq, the candidates are now about even. Though voters are more likely to be "very confident" in McCain (32 percent) than Obama (28 percent) to make the right decisions on Iraq, they are also more likely to be at least somewhat confident in Obama (56 percent) than McCain (53 percent).
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. The Democratic nominee holds a wide edge on inspiring voters, with 53 percent saying Obama inspires them about their future and 27 percent saying the same of McCain.
Both candidates are seen as relatively honest, though Obama holds a slight edge. Fifty-three percent say Obama is more honest than most public officials, while 46 percent say McCain is more honest. Twelve percent say Obama is less honest, and 13 percent say McCain is less honest.
Obama is also seen as more clear about what he would do: 81 percent say he is clear about his plans. Sixty-five percent say McCain is clear about what he would do as president.
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.
The Vice Presidential Candidates, The Candidates' Spouses And The Powell Endorsement
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.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. 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'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.
Obama has been more successful in evoking a positive response from voters: Sixty-two percent say they feel personally comfortable with the Illinois senator. Far fewer - 47 percent - feel comfortable with McCain. In fact, a slightly higher percentage - 49 percent - report feeling "uneasy" about the Republican nominee. Thirty-four percent feel uneasy about Obama.
An increasing number of voters see McCain as running a negative campaign. Sixty-four percent say the Republican is spending more time attacking the other candidate than explaining what he would do as president, up 11 points from last month. Just 22 percent say the same of Obama.
Read The Complete Poll
The Democratic nominee is much more likely to be seen as having the temperament and personality to be president, and he holds a big advantage on handling the economy.
He is widely expected to win the presidency, with likely voters predicting an Obama victory by more than three to one.
Views Of The Candidates
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.
When it comes to confidence in handling a crisis, Obama has a slight edge. Forty-nine percent say they are confident that Obama can deal with a crisis, while 47 percent are uneasy about the prospect. Forty-six percent are confident in McCain to handle a crisis, while 51 percent are uneasy.
In early September, McCain held a large lead on preparedness to be president, with 71 percent saying he is prepared versus 48 percent for Obama. While McCain still holds an advantage on this question, his lead has shrunk. Now 64 percent say McCain is prepared for the job, while 56 percent say the same of Obama.
Sixty-five percent of voters are either very or somewhat confident in Obama to make the right decisions on the economy. A majority - 52 percent - are not confident in McCain on the economy. While 60 percent say Obama's policies will favor the middle class or poor, nearly the same percentage say McCain's policies would favor the rich.
"Only On The Web:" A look at the way CBS polls are conducted.When it comes to handling the war in Iraq, the candidates are now about even. Though voters are more likely to be "very confident" in McCain (32 percent) than Obama (28 percent) to make the right decisions on Iraq, they are also more likely to be at least somewhat confident in Obama (56 percent) than McCain (53 percent).
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. The Democratic nominee holds a wide edge on inspiring voters, with 53 percent saying Obama inspires them about their future and 27 percent saying the same of McCain.
Both candidates are seen as relatively honest, though Obama holds a slight edge. Fifty-three percent say Obama is more honest than most public officials, while 46 percent say McCain is more honest. Twelve percent say Obama is less honest, and 13 percent say McCain is less honest.
Obama is also seen as more clear about what he would do: 81 percent say he is clear about his plans. Sixty-five percent say McCain is clear about what he would do as president.
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.
The Vice Presidential Candidates, The Candidates' Spouses And The Powell Endorsement
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.
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As for the experience factor - if McSame is so experienced why can''t he even run a decent campaign. The in-fighting, chaos, and erractic, reckless decisions is what the experienced one brings to the table.... No thanks!
MCCain- just looks so mean spirited and always in the attack doggie mode, no maverick here!
Palin- is so mentally pathetic and knowledgeable on the National politics and basic governmental operations and terms that she is a danger to any National high office
Republican Base- Supporters either are mentally ill or really uneducated, lower income, religious right fanatics, (you know the type do not think for themselves just ask or Jesus types) and quite unsophisticated what they call "white trailer trash" either some of them have former KKK like mentality- at rallies yell, "Kill him" no wonder MCCAIN cannot raise money as these people do not have money to give, but cannnot think that the Republicans are a party that is for the RICH and SUPER RICH..Do they ever think why the Rich and Super Rich aren''t contributing to the MCCAIN campaign when they benefit the most from his policies?
President Bush- Is a complete joke and worst President ever in teh history of American that people just ignore and wish he did not exist. He is the nightmare of Pennsylvania Ave.
All the respectable and really knowledgeable Republicans are now endorsing OBAMA. I cannot blame them.
They saw it is far wiser for the country and putting the "country first" by voting smarter:
Vote OBAMA/BIDEN 08
--$4,716.49 on hair and makeup just through September,
--$22,800.00 for makeup Oct. 1-15,
--$5,102.71 at Bloomingdale%u2019s New York,
--$9,447.71 at Macy%u2019s in Minneapolis,
--$49,425.74 at Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York
-- $75,062.63 in a whopping spending spree at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis (hey, doggone - this "hockey mom" is goin'' upscale on us real fast!).
Then there''s the $21,012 for her three daughters'' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office as Gov. in December 2006 (thankfully, that bill was paid by the state of Alaska, admirably proving Palin''s credentials as an equal-opportunity biller!).
Republicans used to belittle former Sen. John Edwards'' $400 haircut, but compared to Palin, that looks like chump change!
Even "Joe" (actually Sam) the Plumber must be turning all green with envy - Palin''s fashion budget for just these past few weeks is already more than four times the median salary of an American plumber ($37,514).
If elected, maybe she''ll single-handedly spend us out of this big recession Bush has us heading into! Wouldn''t she make a swell Pres.?
John McCain thinks so! Making her the V.P. candidate was his single most important decision going into this election campaign!
Does that make you confident of his judgment if elected President? Or not so much?