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.
ARCHIVES
SUBJECT INDEX
RECENT POSTS
- In Afghanistan Decision, Risks Abound
- Views on the Terror Trials
- Sarah Palin: Rogue for President?
- Chasing Feathers
- Tomorrow's Elections: An Obama Referendum?
- Schwarzenegger's Nastygram: One in 10 Billion?
- Executive Pay? Cut Away
- Pols, Polls and Pushback
- On Nuclear Iran, Diplomacy and Sanctions are Preferred to Hostilities
- Polling, Politics and Nobels
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Ideology and Ethics
October 23, 2008 7:22 AM
Amidst the rocks in the road for John McCain is this: His criticisms of Barack Obama in terms of ideology aren’t showing progress, and on ethics Obama’s actually improved.
"Obama – born of the corrupt Chicago political machine” says one recent McCain ad. Nonetheless likely voters by 49-39 percent pick Obama over McCain as having “higher personal and ethical standards.” That’s improved from an even split in an ABC/Post poll at the start of their race last May.
Higher personal and ethical standards
Obama McCain
Now 49% 39
May 41 41
“Obama and congressional liberals - too risky for America," another McCain ad says. In the latest ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll 40 percent of likely voters call Obama too liberal. But that’s essentially unchanged since summer, and a majority, 55 percent, instead says he’s “about right” ideologically. Fewer, meantime, say McCain’s where they’d like him to be – 42 percent.
Part of McCain’s challenge is that he comes in for some criticism on both sides of the ideological spectrum. Thirty-eight percent of likely voters see him as too conservative, much like the 40 percent who call Obama too liberal. But an additional 15 percent see McCain as too liberal, while just 2 percent call Obama too conservative.
Too Too About
liberal conserv. right
Obama 40% 2 55
McCain 15 38 42
In a can’t-buy-a-break result, 19 percent of conservatives call McCain too liberal, and an additional 11 percent of conservatives say he’s too conservative; that leaves 65 percent who say he’s about right. By contrast, 90 percent of liberals say Obama’s about right ideologically, as do 64 percent of moderates. Just 37 percent of moderates say McCain’s in the right place ideologically.
Given their importance as swing voters, it’s worth noting where independents go on these questions. On who has higher standards, independents divide fairly closely, 45-38 percent, Obama-McCain. And while 56 percent of independents call Obama “about right” ideologically, that slips to 43 percent for McCain.
October 23, 2008 in 2008 General Election | Permalink | User Comments (44)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
No matter who wins the election, the mess in America will continue because:
1) no President can fix it by himself
2) the economic turmoil is way past an easy fix -- it will take YEARS
3) Congress passes legislation -- not the President, so pay more attention to who you vote for in your district for Congress.
FORGET THE ELOQUENT SPEECHES -- THERE IS NO RAINBOW IN SIGHT.
Posted by: ReynoldsJMX | Oct 23, 2008 8:02:59 AM
What concerns me is that while America is paying so much attention to jobs, the economy, bailouts and things, we are looking good to the terrorists planning the next attack. Security for this country is my concern and I am afraid for my family.
Posted by: Matrixmainline | Oct 23, 2008 8:10:32 AM
Hey Mark Garnett -
Thanks for the lesson in Constitutional law, but the reason Obama is getting elected is because no one buys your conservative view.
Your conservative justices don't "interpret the founder's intent". Your conservative justices interpret the Evangelical Christian Right intent.
In case you've never read the Constitution, it calls for:
- Separation of Church and State
- Equality of all people
- Equal protection under law
- Due Process
- Prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment (torture, etc.)
- Right to Privacy (as violated by your Patriot)
So stop this BS about "Conservative judges" because we, the majority who have elected Obama as our next president, can see clearly that only liberal judges belive in the intent AND strict wording of the Consitutuion and in ALL of the Constitutional requiremnts listd above.
The Evangelical party's over, Mark. You had your day. You ruined Amerca. Now, we're taking it back for our kids, and for the founders of this great nation.
Posted by: Clifton | Oct 23, 2008 8:20:51 AM
wonder whether the next administration will look into campaign fundraising fraud? I guess not if the Messiah is elected.
Posted by: alex | Oct 23, 2008 8:22:00 AM
The years 2008-2012 for the US will be known in history as "The Black Years."
Doom and gloom ahead.
Posted by: Cynthia | Oct 23, 2008 8:26:04 AM
When asked about Reparations Obama was quoted as saying "They don't go far enough" This is where your higher taxes are going to go. Give Away, Give Away, Give Away. Beware!! McCain will cut the taxes and do away with frivolous spending. Vote McCain if you want the economy to prosper or Vote Obama and learn Chinese because if we don't cut the run away spending they will own us.
Posted by: GN | Oct 23, 2008 8:59:12 AM
In order to be World Leader, just how many countries will Osama need to put American troops in? He can't rule the world as he plans unless there is a U.S. presence in each country. Guess he'll have to bring back the Draft.
Posted by: JustinA747 | Oct 23, 2008 9:14:37 AM
Well we can see the Ideology of the Rep's didn't do so good under Reagan with Wall Street cause he had to close down Wall Street for three days until congress pass a bail out plan that cost the American tax payer 5 billion dollars. Now with the Rep Ideology under Bush Jr we know for sure the Rep ideology does not work cause look at the bail out package we just passed because of the failed Ideology of the Reps.
Posted by: Ethel | Oct 23, 2008 11:24:33 AM
How can anybody in their right mind go for Obama and his socialistic views.
Cons:
1. His plan will drive all of us past the point of no return with his non-economy fix.
2. Let's not forget he supports anti-Americans like the Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan and Bill Ayers and hard left wing radicals, not mainstream Americans.
3. Zero Executive experience!.
4. Zero Foreign Policy Experience!.
5. Votes present on most issues.
6. Will crack when pressed by Pelosi, Reid, Barny Frank, and others.
7. Will raise taxes on everybody with a paying job.
Pro's
1. At least all the currently unemployed will have to do Community Service to get their welfare checks.
2. All the funny ads he's running on tv.
Even if it is all BS.
Posted by: azson | Oct 23, 2008 11:55:45 AM
Just imagine McCain as president. With his attitude and persosnality he is liable to start a war. He is a big cry baby if he cannot get what he wants. He is acting like a child with all his criticism. He probably can't even remember what he said yesterday. Also, he is much too old to be prisident.
Posted by: Karen | Oct 23, 2008 11:58:07 AM
It is most sad to watch a once honorable man become an absolute sleaze bag in pursuit this nation's highest honor. He is so idologically driven he cannot have a real two-sided conversation with anyone in the press. He controls, manipulates, and simmers if anyone questions the way he is running his nasty campaign.
He hides behind the skirts of his wife and Sarah Palin, sending them out spewing a message guaranteed to drive deeper wedges between Americans, even as we all struggle to accommodate the Republican's failed and corrupt policies.
Look around, is any agency really working here in the Capitol? Nary a one, and they are all scrambling to right their wrongs as financial world markets crumble.
I fear McCain and Palin's 15 minutes of fame are coming to a dishonorable end. When the blame game starts, they have only to look in the mirror to discover who caused their gloomy downfalls.
Literally no one is happy about this outcome. America was built on hope and fairness, and with Obama we can restore some of these beliefs both at home and abroad.
Posted by: Barbara Coleman | Oct 23, 2008 12:09:36 PM
Susan F, I have not called Obama any names other than OBAMA and did not say anthing about BLACK YEARS. You may not agree with what I have said and I may not agree with you, But point the name calling finger elswhere, Thank You
Posted by: GN | Oct 23, 2008 12:15:08 PM
GN
It could be that the screen names were mixed up by the poster. Unfortunately, it does happen by mistake. I've made the same mistake myself.
I agree, you did not say any of those things and an apology is due.
Posted by: This is SO Old | Oct 23, 2008 12:27:37 PM
I think it's ironic that the political party of the Religious Right is so dishonest, hypocritical, and morally bankrupt. So much for organized religion's impact on people's ethics and morality. As an old professor of mine used to say: "Puritanism never stopped anybody from doing anything. It just stopped them from enjoying it!"
Posted by: Sammy | Oct 23, 2008 12:43:25 PM
Thanks This is So Old.
You know none of us are 100% right with our opinions and if we stay aleast civil we may just learn something alot is in print on both sides that when checked out is distorted. In the end no matter who wins we have to live together thats why we all need to remenber we are one nation and one people.
Posted by: GN | Oct 23, 2008 12:43:40 PM
McCain had it right in 05 about Fannie and Freddie! so did George Bush.
Pelosi, Reid, Barney Frank and other Dems since they won Congress you can blame for the mess were in. "Remember all the bloat taxpayer dollars they were trying to tack onto the bailout and their great desire to ram it home before anybody became aware of what they were trying to do". How much $ did they actually get for Acorn anyway?, it seems to have gone to a good cause in registering Mickey Mouse, 200,000 crap ballots in Ohio and 30,000 plus Felons in Florida not to mention Nevada, Michigan and God knows where else.
Posted by: azson | Oct 23, 2008 2:06:27 PM
In this day and age color of a persons skin is not a factor, BUT experience is. Look at the facts John McCain may not be perfact but he does have the exp to lead this country with a change for the better.(He is NOT G.Bush)On the other hand I Pray to God Sen.Obama doesn't make it to the White House. We DO NOT need a Pres. that is going to have to use the learn as we go program, and test the waters. And Sen Obama has done alot of lieing about certain things. Just look @ some of the things his Demc. supporters said while he was falling behind H. Clinton. And if he is elected and this country heads into a tail spin don't blame the last Pres. Blame it on learn as we go.
Posted by: cmw | Oct 23, 2008 2:40:52 PM
Ethel - do you have a source for that statement about Reagan closing Wall Street for three days to wait for a $5 billion bailout to pass Congress...or...
Did you just make it up thinking everybody would believe it because you said so?
Posted by: MizFW | Oct 23, 2008 3:23:42 PM
Here we go.... I can tell you one thing, there will be fear. I am already afraid to campaign for John McCain, going door-to-door is out of the question and forget the bumper sticker. This thing is getting violent! I guess when Obama told his followers to "get in their face" some of them are taking it literally. A woman was just mutilated in Pittsburg by a follower of Obama. A house was shot up in Florida, signs are destroyed, campaign offices vandalized, etc.. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks.
Posted by: Karen Dunlap | Oct 23, 2008 4:28:35 PM
Ideology and ethics.
2 things the founders of this country wrestled with.
In the end they decided those concepts are best left to the individual and concluded the USA should be operated by laws and reason.
Sadly the country is run by spoiled children. Time for the adults to take over.
Posted by: Wayne | Oct 23, 2008 4:44:53 PM
Post a comment
