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NYT Finds Little Racial Progress Evident in Obama Run; Obama Camp Pushes Back
July 16, 2008 8:47 AM
Today's New York Times analysis of their poll on the racial dimensions to this election -- "Poll Finds Obama’s Run Isn’t Closing Divide on Race" -- is being met with some pushback from Camp Obama.
Write the Times' Adam Nagourney and Megan Thee: " Americans are sharply divided by race heading into the first election in which an African-American will be a major-party presidential nominee, with blacks and whites holding vastly different views of Senator Barack Obama, the state of race relations and how black Americans are treated by society, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. The results of the poll, conducted against the backdrop of a campaign in which race has been a constant if not always overt issue, suggested that Mr. Obama’s candidacy, while generating high levels of enthusiasm among black voters, is not seen by them as evidence of significant improvement in race relations.
After years of growing political polarization, much of the divide in American politics is partisan. But Americans’ perceptions of the fall presidential election between Mr. Obama, Democrat of Illinois, and Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, also underlined the racial discord that the poll found. More than 80 percent of black voters said they had a favorable opinion of Mr. Obama; about 30 percent of white voters said they had a favorable opinion of him.
The Times writes that " Black and white Americans agree that America is ready to elect a black president, but disagree on almost every other question about race in the poll."
Michelle Obama, for instance, enjoys 58 percent favorability rating among black voters, compared with a 24 percent favorability rating among whites.
Writes Camp Obama in an email to reporters this morning:
" The NYT story about their poll ignores multiple and significant pieces of data that actually indicate a trend much different from that which the story suggests. Here are some straightforward points from their data that are omitted from the story:
"a) More white voters say Obama cares about people like them, than say the same thing about McCain by 31 to 23.
"b) On the essential issue in this campaign bringing about change in Washington Among white voters, Obama is seen as the change agent by 52% to 30%.
"c) Obama’s 31% favorable rating among white voters is virtually identical to McCain’s, which is at 34%.
"d) By a 2 to 1 margin over McCain, white voters are more likely to say that Obama would improve America’s image in the world.
"e) 'Racial dissension' around Mrs. Obama’s 24% favorable rating among whites is an extremely odd description given that Mrs. McCain’s favorable rating among white voters is 20%.
"f) Enthusiasm for Obama’s candidacy is roughly 2.5 times higher among white voters than is enthusiasm for McCain’s.
"g) Obama is winning by 6 points against McCain and the gap among white voters is only -9 --- a margin smaller than independent expert on voting patterns, Ruy Texiera, said would give Obama a 'solid win.'
"h) Though there is a six-point margin of error among black voters the NYT describes the 7-point change in black voters’ views that whites had a better chance of getting ahead as slightly higher than 8 years ago. Given that the Times reports horserace questions as statistically even when the margin falls within the margin, it seems that this shift from seven years ago among black voters is well within the margin of error."
- jpt
July 16, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (23)
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I wish I could see a breakdown of that data between Hillary and Obama.
Posted by: irma | Jul 17, 2008 2:06:58 PM
Nobody has a problem with BO being black, Jane. It is not about race. I am glad to read all the high popularity ratings cited by the BO campaign boasting that he is loved by black and white Americans - he and his fans can’t scream prejudice when he loses! It will be because of his character - not his colour - and the fact that he himself injected race in this election. As one blogger said earlier -you reap what you sow.
Posted by: Beckie | Jul 16, 2008 8:06:07 PM
he's been a candidate for months now... you mean he hasn't fixed the country already?
what a ridiculous cherry-picking of their own poll, especially in light of the obama camp's great response. whatever fits the narrative, I guess.
Posted by: JR | Jul 16, 2008 7:35:48 PM
Obama is lost when he can't counter negative publicity by blaming Hillary or prancing superdelegates around to make him look good.
Posted by: riley | Jul 16, 2008 5:41:56 PM
race relations are horrible...with thanks to bho's injection of racism at every turn. he is of mixed parentage, but seems to loath the white in him.
i want a president who is american, not "african-american"
Posted by: tr | Jul 16, 2008 5:14:29 PM
when you own the paper you can spin your own news any way you damn well want. the times has been doing this for decades now. someone is just now paying attention?
Posted by: kravitz | Jul 16, 2008 2:20:49 PM
I think that, if anything, his candidacy has sparked increased racial tension. We saw this in numerous exit polls during the primary where race was consistently found to be an important factor in voters' minds. Furthermore, the scandals surrounding Jeremiah Wright and more recently Jesse Jackson have served to fuel the hurtful notion that we are a nation of races...Highlighting the policies and madness of the Senator's church makes many people uncomfortable, I think.
Jane Hussein, I don't think its so much a matter of his candidacy is stirring up white racism as it is a matter of his candidacy has brought to the forefront a number of issues that serve to keep our country divided. However, despite my criticism of him as a potential leader, I have to give him credit for his attempts.
Posted by: The Gentle Cricket | Jul 16, 2008 11:27:58 AM
Just another case of the media creating news by polling.
Racial issues are still real. The Democratic primaries showed that quite clearly.
But now most Obama supporters are just dutifully following the party line, just as most McCain supporters are dutifully following the party line.
Posted by: JonDo369 | Jul 16, 2008 10:57:19 AM
yes, because a black man running for president (not even president yet) is going to change 400 years of the BIGOTED history on america, just becuase he is running.
the "press" cannot find any scandal so they put up crap. when are you going to start reporting on mccain?
Posted by: johnosahon | Jul 16, 2008 10:09:17 AM
18 MILLION are for HILLARY that will never change!
PUMA and MILLIONS are still here for HILLARY, the better candidate.
Obama and friends are so hateful and racist we will stick with HILLARY!
Vote anyone but OBAMA! ANYONE! NoBama!
New York Senator Hillary Clinton leads McCain by eight points, 50% to 42%. Former Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2000, leads McCain 50% to 43%.
Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 16, 2008 10:04:19 AM
All Americans Best look at the facts.
Obama is concerned for blacks staying in school futhering their education.
He has said that, spoke on that and has made statements on that.
He sorta of Left out, Lationo's, American indians, Asian Americans and white americans, Showing his Major concern is Black americans.
So Yes Obama has race and racial concerns written all over him for African Americans only.
Posted by: seah | Jul 16, 2008 9:59:13 AM
obama is full of it..
he hates people who work for aliving
Posted by: trettione | Jul 16, 2008 9:53:16 AM
Ah now the race card the Obama campaigns counted on to help win is now a thorn in his side. Do not fret BO, ALL the AA are going to support you. That old bible says AS YE SOW, SO SHALL YE REAP!
How can you win BO when you even think Bill Clinton is a racist. Look in the mirror BARRY!
Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 16, 2008 9:50:50 AM
The New York media still can't get over Hillary. The Times is a rag...........
Posted by: Jen | Jul 16, 2008 9:45:51 AM
I have noticed that the media REALLY focuses on Obama much more than McCain. It's like Obama is exciting & new and McCain is boring & old.
This election is all about Obama. McCain is IRRELEVANT.
I have also noticed that in polls, McCain is STUCK in the low 40's. It's like McCain has a ceiling which is 45%. If the country feels comfortable with Obama than he will probably win in a landslide.
Posted by: Michelle | Jul 16, 2008 9:45:47 AM
obamasbeen wrote:
Barack has a problem being black.... and white. He's created the racial divide.
**********
He has not "created" a divide, his run for POTUS has just exposed it. It been there all along and if you can't see that, then you are part of the problem.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 16, 2008 9:45:26 AM
He's already breaking promises.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | Jul 16, 2008 9:41:35 AM
All I know is that Obama has no problem with the blue collar, Union types here in MI. I was at a picnic on the 4th of July with about 50 Electricial Union workers and they all have no problem with Barack being black.
_______________________
Jane Hussein.... All the black blue collar workers won't have a problem in Michigan with Obama being black.
Posted by: obamasbeenlyin | Jul 16, 2008 9:35:29 AM
Barack has a problem being black.... and white. He's created the racial divide. I know when I first heard him speak at the 2004 Convention, my reaction was WOW! Now it's YAWN. He's brought up race left and right in these primaries. It's been like the elephant in the living room for anyone white. Don't dare say anything, or it will be taken as racist. Like Biden saying Obama is articulate. Well god knows George Bush isn't articulate and no one would use that reference for him. But when Biden referred to Obama as articulate, it was considered racist. Get a grip.
Posted by: obamasbeenlyin | Jul 16, 2008 9:31:51 AM
Seems like this is a byproduct on the media focus on Obama. The NYtimes forgets to look at all the actual data, instead focusing solely on Obama's numbers. If they don't align with some arbitrary level set by the reporters, therefore he's not doing what he should. Statistics are routinely misused and misapplied, seems like another example here.
Posted by: cycl06 | Jul 16, 2008 9:31:21 AM
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