McCain Trusted More Than Obama on Economy, Iraq, National Security

[GaryC 7]

McCain Trusted More Than Obama on Economy, Iraq, National Security

rasmussenreports.com 2 hours, 16 minutes ago

When it comes to the economy, 47% of voters trust John McCain more than Barack Obama. Obama is trusted more by 41%. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey also found that, when it comes to the War in Iraq, McCain is trusted more by 49% of voters. Obama is preferred by 37%. McCain has an even larger edgeâ53% to 31%--on the broader topic of National Security. These results are little changed from a month ago.

Obama enjoys a 43% to 39% advantage when it comes to government ethics and reducing corruption. McCain has a 44% to 38% advantage on taxes.

It is interesting to note that while McCain has the edge over Obama on these issues, Democrats are trusted more than Republicans on a generic basis. This ability of McCain to outperform the party label helps explain why he is competitive with the Democrats in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking poll.

When it comes to the economy, men trust McCain more by a 55% to 33% margin. Among women, Obama has a seven-point edge. Obama has the advantage among voters under 30 while McCain is preferred by their elders. Investors prefer McCain while non-Investors are evenly divided. Union Members prefer Obama 46% to 40%. Government Workers are evenly divided while Entrepreneurs and Private Sector Employees are more likely to trust McCain.

McCain is trusted more by 25% of Democrats. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats trust the likely nominee of their Party.

Recent surveys have found that most voters believe the economic stimulus package has had little impact, most believe that tax hikes are bad for the economy, and 65% oppose an increase in the capital gains tax. The Rasmussen Consumer Index has found consumer and investor confidence at record low levels.

As for the War in Iraq, McCain is trusted more by 85% of Republicans, 22% of Democrats, and 49% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Tracking polls have shown that roughly 6-out-of-ten Americans want troops home from Iraq within a year. However, only about one-in-four want the troops brought home immediately. The gap between those numbers is filled by Americans who both parties have a chance to persuade during Election 2008. A recent survey found that 52% of voters believe it is more important to get U.S. troops out of Iraq than it is to win the War. Expectations are that a McCain Presidency would more likely lead to victory in Iraq while Obama is more likely to get the troops home.

The broader topic of National Security is one of the few issues where Republicans are competitive on a generic basis with Democrats. However, following seven years of the Bush Administration, the GOP advantage on this issue has declined.

On taxes, Republicans are preferred over Democrats, 46% to 42%. McCain is trusted over Clinton 45% to 36% and by a 41% to 38% margin over Obama.

When it comes to government ethics and reducing corruption, both candidates are trusted more by roughly seven-out-of-ten within their own party. Obama has a statistically insignificant two-point edge among unaffiliated voters. What is perhaps more significant is that 28% of unaffiliated voters trust neither candidate on this topic.

The national telephone survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports, May 28-29, 2008. Margin of sampling error is +/-3.5 with a 95% level of confidence.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20080530...ustmore20080530

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

McCain also has a dismal -63 EB reading which has been a much better indicator than the polls this far in advance of the election. Sorry, Gary.

[GaryC 7]

McCain also has a dismal -63 EB reading which has been a much better indicator than the polls this far in advance of the election. Sorry, Gary.

Yeah, latch onto one thing and hammer it into the ground Dog. The election is a lot more than that. These are the issues that will turn the election and McCain is beating Obama on them. Sorry Dog.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[Ilya R. 0]

The biggest question is will McCain make it to November?

[GaryC 7]

Yeah Dog, keep trying to make McCain into Bush. It's a recipe for failure. Look at it this way. Every conventional line of thinking says that McCain should be left in the dust by Obama. So far he has bucked every one of those. Not only is McCain keeping up with Obama but in many of the important issues he is ahead. It says 2 things to me. McCain has appeal to the moderates and as you know that is where elections are won. It also says that Obama has a loyal but small base and he isn't gaining any new converts. Keep up your hope Dog. It's all you have.

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't know as to the accuracy of any poles, let alone the veracity of the Rassmusen poling techniques, which do seem a bit peculiar to say the least.

However, I have to say that the general trends that are highlighted seem plausible. People are concerned about the troops and do want them brought home but that is caveated by a need to see some kind of resolution in Iraq as well. It would be pretty pointless to bring them home at this point and then a year later have to deploy them in a bigger conflict that takes place because of the instability and I think reluctantly most people do see this.

As far as the economy is concerned, I can also see how McCain would be seen as more likely to be able to steer it in the direction people want to go in. Whether this perception has any validity isn't really the point as people don't really care about what actually happens but rather what they believe a candidate would do dependant on their impression of what they are like as people. McCain is older, so more dependable.

National Secrurity is again a no brainer, people in American don't trust diplomacy to solve their national security problems. The US wouldn't be in Iraq if Americans trusted diplomacy and the UN.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Yeah Dog, keep trying to make McCain into Bush.

I'm not trying anything. McSame is doing it all on his own.

[GaryC 7]

Yeah Dog, keep trying to make McCain into Bush.

I'm not trying anything. McSame is doing it all on his own.

Please carry on. I encourage you to run against Bush instead of McCain. You will lose that way.

[GaryC 7]

I don't know as to the accuracy of any poles, let alone the veracity of the Rassmusen poling techniques, which do seem a bit peculiar to say the least.

However, I have to say that the general trends that are highlighted seem plausible. People are concerned about the troops and do want them brought home but that is caveated by a need to see some kind of resolution in Iraq as well. It would be pretty pointless to bring them home at this point and then a year later have to deploy them in a bigger conflict that takes place because of the instability and I think reluctantly most people do see this.

As far as the economy is concerned, I can also see how McCain would be seen as more likely to be able to steer it in the direction people want to go in. Whether this perception has any validity isn't really the point as people don't really care about what actually happens but rather what they believe a candidate would do dependant on their impression of what they are like as people. McCain is older, so more dependable.

National Secrurity is again a no brainer, people in American don't trust diplomacy to solve their national security problems. The US wouldn't be in Iraq if Americans trusted diplomacy and the UN.

Your very correct PH. I think it's odd that some of the Obama supporters want to run against Bush rather than take on McCain on the issues. It's as if they know they can't compete on the real issues facing America and have to resort to associations to smear him. Funny, it's the same thing they yelp about when Rev Write or Ayers gets brought up. If they keep up that track they will lose.

[mawilson 2,133]

If the economy fully recovers by November, Barack will be in trouble.

[GaryC 7]

If the economy fully recovers by November, Barack will be in trouble.

Even if it starts to recover and people are feeling better he is toast. But even without that every poll shows Americans trust McCain more than Obama on the economy. Raising peoples taxes isn't a popular way of gaining support.

[mawilson 2,133]

If the economy fully recovers by November, Barack will be in trouble.

Even if it starts to recover and people are feeling better he is toast. But even without that every poll shows Americans trust McCain more than Obama on the economy. Raising peoples taxes isn't a popular way of gaining support.

I don't know, Gary. "Tax the rich" seems to be a popular mantra these days...

[GaryC 7]

If the economy fully recovers by November, Barack will be in trouble.

Even if it starts to recover and people are feeling better he is toast. But even without that every poll shows Americans trust McCain more than Obama on the economy. Raising peoples taxes isn't a popular way of gaining support.

I don't know, Gary. "Tax the rich" seems to be a popular mantra these days...

The trouble is Obama's definition of "rich". Anyone making 100K or more is in for higher taxes under Obama.

[chri'stina 190]

If McCain is so much like Bush, then why didn't the certain right wing supporters of Bush support McCain until they had no choice but to? Don't you think they would have been behind McCain from the beginning? They may have some similar views on some things, but they are not the same.