POLL: Bush May Be as Harmful to McCain as Wright Is to Obama

[jefferson_dem]

Bush May Be as Harmful to McCain as Wright Is to Obama

One-third of likely voters say they are less likely to vote for McCain because of BushUSA Democrats Election 2008 Republicans Americas Northern America by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- George W. Bush may do as much damage to John McCain's chances of being elected as Jeremiah Wright does to Barack Obama's, according to results of a recent USA Today/Gallup poll.



The May 1-3 poll finds 38% of likely voters saying McCain's association with Bush makes them less likely to vote for McCain, while 33% say Obama's association with Wright diminishes their likelihood of voting for Obama. The Bush-McCain relationship does have more upside than the Obama-Wright association, though, as 7% say they are more likely to vote for McCain because of his association with Bush, while only 1% say they are more likely to vote for Obama because of his association with Wright.

Importantly, a majority of voters in both questions say the personal association will not affect their vote either way.

The nature of the relationships is clearly different -- Wright was Obama's former pastor, while Bush and McCain were rivals for the 2000 presidential nomination but Bush has endorsed McCain in the 2008 election. But both present problems for the candidates -- Wright for his incendiary sermons and controversial remarks that have raised questions about Obama's beliefs and his personal judgment, and Bush for his low approval ratings that hurt the GOP in the 2006 elections and may well do so again in 2008.

The poll also asked how Bill Clinton might affect voters' propensity to vote for Hillary Clinton. While the 33% who say it makes them less likely to cast a ballot for Hillary for president rivals the percentages found for the McCain-Bush and Obama-Wright associations, the 18% who say it makes them more likely to vote for Hillary means Bill also helps to attract support for his wife. Just under half say the Clintons' association would not affect their vote.



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http://www.gallup.com/poll/107215/Bush-May-Harmful-McCain-Wright-Obama.aspx

[slinkerwink]

1. interesting!

[Clear Blue Sky]

3. Bush will be useful for fund raising.

I doubt McCain will use him at high profile events. Instead he will appear at events for the party faithful who have checkbooks in hand.

[ima_sinnic]

2. 7% are MORE likely to vote for McSame because of Bush association

so I guess we can talk about the "7 percenters" now, down from the "19 percenters" recently.

morans!

:rofl: :wtf:

[my3boyz]

4. Yet McCain did not distance himself from Bush as Obama did with Wright. nt