The Numbers
A Run at the Latest Data from ABC's Poobah of Polling, Gary Langer
Gary Langer is director of polling at ABC News, where he's covered the beat of public opinion for nearly 20 years - conducting and analyzing ABC News polls, evaluating data from other sources and setting the news division's standards for poll reporting. Langer has won two Emmy awards for ABC's reporting of public opinion polls in Iraq, and The Numbers blog was honored this year as winner of the 2008 Iowa Gallup Award for Excellent Journalism Using Polls.
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The Spouses
August 24, 2008 6:13 PM
Conservatives and Republicans will be eyeing Michelle Obama with some skepticism when she addresses the Democratic National Convention on Monday evening – more than liberals and Democrats express about Cindy McCain. But both are reasonably popular, with substantial numbers of Americans waiting to learn more.
Fifty-one percent of registered voters express a favorable opinion of Michelle Obama in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, while 30 percent view her unfavorably; the rest, 19 percent, haven’t formed an opinion. For Cindy McCain, it’s 47 percent favorable, 20 percent unfavorable, with more, a third, yet to make a judgment.
The 10-point difference in their unfavorable ratings is a partisan one. Fifty-seven percent of conservatives and 48 percent of Republicans view Michelle Obama unfavorably; fewer Democrats or liberals (33 and 28 percent) hold an unfavorable opinion of Cindy McCain.
It likely doesn’t matter much. Assessments of the presidential candidates, not their wives, drive vote preferences. But presumably views of the spouses can contribute in some way to ultimate assessments of the candidates themselves.
Like their husbands, each, of course, appeals most to her party’s base: Obama’s most popular among African-Americans, Democrats and liberals, McCain among Republicans and conservatives. Their ratings are little changed from two months ago.
Favorable ratings for Obama and McCain are higher than they were for Teresa Heinz Kerry in 2004 and Laura Bush in 2000; the spouses this year are better known.
Favorable Unfavorable No opin.
Michelle Obama 8/08 51% 30 19
Cindy McCain 8/08 47 20 33Teresa Heinz Kerry 7/04 27 26 47
Laura Bush 8/04 66 15 19
Laura Bush 6/00 35 7 57
Tipper Gore 6/00 60 17 23
Elizabeth Dole, 9/96 51 16 33
Hillary Clinton 8/92 44 28 28
(‘00 polls by Gallup)
In an ABC/Post poll last December, 16 percent of registered voters said they give a “great amount” of weight to the candidates’ spouses in deciding whom to support for president. That compares with 66 percent who said they give a great amount of weight to the candidates’ stands on the issues, 59 percent to their personal qualities and 54 percent to their professional abilities.
And by the way, check out our new full election poll - a good roadmap to the conventions.
August 24, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (3)
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I wonder why it should matter so much? Freightening to think there are people out there that would base their voting decisions on canidates'spouses. Or worse who's dress they like better.Looks to me like someone's trying to play the blame game. If Obama loses it's because of his poor choices, not his wife, or someone else's wife. I know, let's blame Hillary. That seems to be the topic of the day.
Posted by: Miki | Aug 24, 2008 6:59:15 PM
Is this the news or the creation of news?
Posted by: doug | Aug 24, 2008 7:06:36 PM
Honestly? I don't want another Hillary-type in the White House.
Posted by: tam | Aug 25, 2008 5:18:18 PM
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