New CBS News Poll! Obama Surges and W Slumps; Wow Two for One!
CBS Poll: Obama Surges Ahead Nationally
CBS News/NY Times Survey Finds Obama Opens Up 16-Point Lead;
Also Holds Double Digit Lead In Head-To-Head Match Up With McCain
A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds Barack Obama with a 16-point lead over rival Hillary Clinton among Democratic primary voters nationwide. Obama, coming off 11 straight primary and caucus victories, had the support of 54 percent of Democratic primary voters nationally. Clinton had 38 percent support.
In a CBS News poll taken three weeks ago, shortly before Super Tuesday, Obama and Clinton were tied at 41 percent. Clinton led by 15 points nationally in January.
The former first lady has lost her advantage among women, according to the poll: The two leading Democrats now have even levels of support among female primary voters.
Men, meanwhile, disproportionately favor Obama. He leads Clinton among male Democratic primary voters 67 percent to 28 percent, and leads among white men 61 percent to 33 percent.
Fifty-nine percent of Democratic primary voters said Obama has the best chance of beating likely Republican nominee John McCain in the general election. Twenty-eight percent said Clinton is most likely to win in November.
Republicans Accept McCain, But Enthusiasm Lacking:
On the Republican side, more than 80 percent of primary voters said they would be satisfied with McCain as their nominee - but less than 30 percent would be “very satisfied.” The findings suggest a far lower level of enthusiasm than exists among Democratic primary voters, roughly four in 10 of whom would be very satisfied with Clinton or Obama as their nominee.
A majority of Republican primary voters said McCain generally has the right positions on the issues, though self-described conservatives were less enthusiastic: 52 percent said the Arizona senator is not conservative enough.
Almost three-quarters of Republican primary voters - including 60 percent of conservatives - want a candidate who would compromise with Democrats in order to get things done. Only 14 percent said they want a Republican president who will stick to Republican positions even if it means getting less accomplished. A majority said they believe McCain would compromise the right amount as president.
Click here to read more of this CBS News Poll. As if all of this is not good news for Neo-Con loyalists, three Americans in four now believe that we are on the wrong national course. Only 19% of Americans believe we are on the right course, a new low low. W’s job approval rating is 29% which is up 2% from May of 2007. More and more, only Republicans are able to side with George Bush. In fact 66% of Republicans approve of his job performance. If two thirds of the Republicans approve, and 29% of Americans approve, you can gauge how popular this president is with the rest of the nation. By Golly, as Ralph Nader just said, If you can’t elect a Democrat in this environment you better give up! Click here to read more of the CBS News poll at it relates to the national course and George W. Bush.