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Obama's Negatives Rise, Clinton Tops McCain in New Poll
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ShareApril 30, 2008 6:40 PM
ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: Barack Obama's recent woes may be having an effect in the polls.
A new CBS/New York Times poll released on Wednesday shows Sen. Obama, D-Ill., and presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tied in a hypothetical general election match-up, while Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., edges out McCain by a five-point margin.
Here are raw CBS/New York Times numbers now (among registered voters):
If the candidates were Obama and McCain, who would you vote for?
Obama: 45%
McCain: 45%
Undecided/Don't Know: 6%
If the candidates were Clinton and McCain, who would you vote for?
Clinton: 48%
McCain: 43%
Undecided/Don't Know: 5%
"Barack Obama's problems over the last few weeks, including his Pennsylvania primary loss and the continuing media coverage of his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, may have contributed to his weaker position compared to two weeks ago," read an analysis released by CBS and the New York Times.
Since their last poll four weeks ago, unfavorable views of Obama have risen 10% -- from 24% a month ago to 34% at present. Obama's woes also appear to know few demographic bounds -- unfavorable views of Obama have risen among women, whites, independents and Democrats, according to CBS News and the New York Times.
Here are the raw CBS/New York Times numbers as of their last poll on April 3, 2008 (among registered voters):
If the candidates were Obama and McCain, who would you vote for?
Obama: 47%
McCain: 42%
Undecided/Don't Know: 7%
If the candidates were Clinton and McCain, who would you vote for?
Clinton: 48%
McCain: 43%
Undecided/Don't Know: 5%
An Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Monday found similar results.
In that poll, Clinton leads McCain by 9-points, 50-41, in a hypothetical general election match-up. Obama, on the other hand, is "virtually tied" with McCain, at 46-44 percent.
Obama strongly condemned recent comments made by his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, on Tuesday, a move that many political pundits consider high-stakes but necessary gamble by his campaign to control a spreading political firestorm.
Reacting to what he called the "spectacle" of his former pastor at the National Press Club, Obama denounced Wright saying, "What Rev. Wright said yesterday directly contradicts everything I have ever done or said in my life."
"Whatever relationship I had with Rev Wright has changed as a result of this," Obama said.
The candidate went considerably further than he has in the past in distancing himself from Wright, accusing him of "insensitivity and outrageousness" in his Monday appearance at the National Press Club in Washington.
"The person I saw (on Monday) was not the person I met 20 years ago," Obama said.
So, let's focus on Barack Obama and his campaign and see where things stand in aftermath of latest Rev. Wright events.
In his exclusive blog on ABCNews.com, former Bush campaign strategist and ABC News political contributor Matthew Dowd opined that "Obama's statements in last 24 hours of being passionately critical of Wright and saying he was out of step with America were the only choice he had left. It was his only option and he seized it well."
Dowd laid out four points he views as critical to an Obama comeback emphasizing, "The biggest damage to him is that he held a brand of being an unconventional candidate in a time America wants a shift from the conduct of politics as usual. But he and his campaign have seemed very conventional of late."
April 30, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (731)
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Memo to DNC - End the Drama - Pull the Plug on Obama!!!!
Posted by: s. valenti | Apr 30, 2008 6:47:03 PM
Mr. Obama aint no president...
Posted by: ebony | Apr 30, 2008 6:58:53 PM
Dea, Reid and Pelosi DNC should quickly pull the plug on Hillary the Bosnian General, she is unelectable and is the only one candidate who can reinvigorate and reunite the Republican base which McCain needs to win. Learn the lesson. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 30, 2008 7:00:10 PM
BO: hypocrisy at best in display.
Posted by: Olbermann3 | Apr 30, 2008 7:00:40 PM
Louis, you guys sure were touting those polls when Obama was winning. LOL
Posted by: A reader in Georgia | Apr 30, 2008 7:03:57 PM
Obama treats Americans like real people and grown ups, no more lies, its time to change Washington, obama 08!
Posted by: jacobs | Apr 30, 2008 7:04:31 PM
Yea right, Hillary is just womping everyone now. NOT!!
Posted by: Joe | Apr 30, 2008 7:06:04 PM
Obama can't win the general election. Go Hillary or McCain!
Posted by: Jacko | Apr 30, 2008 7:06:19 PM
Hey Ed,
You failed to mention that Obama has actually gained ground over Hillary in this poll.
But that would distract from your aim, now wouldn't it?
Show a little journalistic integrity.
Posted by: Jack | Apr 30, 2008 7:07:32 PM
The only way that super delegates will start to move away from Obama is if he loses Indiana and has a less than impressive showing in North Carolina.
It feels like Obama peaked months ago and it is Clinton with the momentum.
Posted by: sherr | Apr 30, 2008 7:07:47 PM
I have been reading a lot of information regarding voter suppression in NC. As an African American this really concerns me as it has been aimed at the AA community. What is going on, and why are you not reporting it!
Posted by: Anette | Apr 30, 2008 7:08:20 PM
@Anette.
Just show up with a photo i.d.
No matter how you feel about it, that will move the process and voting along.
Posted by: sherr | Apr 30, 2008 7:09:44 PM
Please stop calling Sen Clinton Shrillary Obamas negatives have gone up because of his not being truthful and guilt by association is valid at this pint because everyone in Chicago tries to get ahead in schemes that are considered illegal everywhere else please do the right thing and nominate Hillary she will move this country forward trying to say Obama would bring a new discourse is a joke
Posted by: staniam | Apr 30, 2008 7:10:29 PM
"He does not know me now." Let's run the poll again in a few days and let that sink into people. The masses march out of the church house on Sundays disagreeing with their Pastor and talk about it all day and into the night. Now they have seen the power of mud-fights in politics and the pressure put on a man who unmistakenly looked like it was one of the most painful things in his life to do - publically distance himself from his pastor, the man who married he and his wife and Baptized his children. With applause the Karl Rovians had divided another camp - but what Senator Obama's campaign has been all about is rising above it all and from far, far behind the pack he has made it thus far. Take the poll again on Monday - this young man has been tested over and over and over and over. He continues on, thankfully. I'm sorry if I offend some of my fellow citizens, but I'm beginning to clearly see what Senator Obama has been trying to tell us from the beginning.
Posted by: OnTheGloryRoad | Apr 30, 2008 7:11:34 PM
obama is in serious trouble - i watch the comments on digg.com and there has defintely been a change in tone toward obama - two months ago one word against obama and you would have been 'dugg down' into oblivion but if you go there today a lot of people are expressing their concerns and being 'dugg up'
Posted by: scathinglybrilliant | Apr 30, 2008 7:11:36 PM
Its over for Obama he needs to do the right thing and suspend his campaign it should be Clinton/Edwards on the ticket because in 2004 Kerry was not nice to edwards and edwards wouldve won the ticket for them
Posted by: staniam | Apr 30, 2008 7:13:37 PM
and some Obama people are having ephinaies how interesting... Clinton will rise to the occasion and defeat him soundly end of story
Posted by: staniam | Apr 30, 2008 7:15:38 PM
Note that while Obama accumulates negatives and baggage via his associations, and it is not quite the baggage Hillary carries by being married to Bill. As far as family values goes, the Clintons send a very bad message. The Republicans will have their way the 'impeached' Clintons.
Posted by: democratfor08 | Apr 30, 2008 7:15:45 PM
If Hillary Clinton is the nominee it will be a guaranteed McCain win. All the young voters, new voters, African American voters, Independent voters, and Obamacans will either vote for McCain or stay home. The damage will not only be seen in this election but in elections for decades to come.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 30, 2008 7:16:04 PM
Obama is unelectable!
Who cares if he gets the nomination and looses to John McCain in November!
Sure either Hillary or McCain!
Posted by: Greg | Apr 30, 2008 7:16:47 PM
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