The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows John McCain leading both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in general election match-ups. McCain now leads Obama 46% to 43% and Clinton 48% to 43%. McCain has consistently held a modest lead over Clinton but he moved ahead of Obama only after publication of the controversial New York Times article last week (see recent daily results and summary of recent state general election polls). Daily tracking results are collected via nightly telephone surveys and reported on a four-day rolling average basis. The next Presidential Tracking Poll update is scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
Just 24% of voters have a favorable opinion on the New York Times in results that vary dramatically along partisan and ideological lines. By a three-to-one margin, those following the story believe the Times released last week’s story with the intent to hurt the McCain campaign rather than to report the news.
You hear that you MSM hacks. People are catching on. Perhaps Jason Blair is looking for work and can find some new dirt on McCain.
Nationwide, Obama is viewed favorably by 51% and unfavorably by 46%. McCain’s numbers are 55% favorable, 42% unfavorable. Clinton earns positive reviews from 47% of Likely Voters nationwide and negative assessments from 52% (see recent daily results). McCain is trusted more than Obama when it comes to National Security, the War in Iraq, and the Economy. Obama is trusted more on the issue of Reducing Government Corruption.
This is critical. It is almost impossible to elect someone whose negatives are larger than their positives (Hillary). Barack has the benefit of being a pretty face that folks don’t know much about, but as the election draws near, people will listen to what he has said and is saying. I don’t know how he gets his unfavorables to come down because as of right now, he hasn’t laid out an agenda and already, his negatives are at 46%.
Striking is that McCain is viewed favorably by 55% of the American people and only 42% dislike him. It is on Dems now to make Barack more likeable and attack McCain. The NYT tried that last week and it blew up in their faces. This presents real problems because Americans actually like McCain. He has been around and a major figure since 2000 when he ran for President last time. He has a strong track record and for the most part, folks know what they are getting from him. He has an established "brand" and people have well formented opinions. Obama has no real brand and no real substance. He is about as much of a one trick pony with his "change speech" as the Silk Pony himself with his "two Americas speech". Tough to build a brand when your only substance is being a good speaker.
Hence why it is important for McCain to control his temper and control his rhetoric by running a positive campaign. Dems are beating the hell out of each other and if McCain runs on the issues against Obama, McCain wins this thing.