by Mark Silva
Not only has Democrat Barack Obama gained a "significant'' national advantage over Republican John McCain (by a margin of 49-42 percentage points) in the latest survey of the Pew Research Center, but Republican running mate Sarah Palin also has lost the confidence of a lot of voters in the latest survey.
Heading in to the first debate of the vice presidential candidates, Palin may be suffering from some of the national exposure she has gained in network news interviews - with the current run of CBS News interviews with Palin exposing her as uncertain about a lot of matters. That CBS series continues today.
"Opinions about Sarah Palin have become increasingly negative, with a majority of the public (51 percent) now saying that the Alaska governor is not qualified to become president if necessary;'' Pew Research Center President Andy Kohut reports.
"Just 37 percent say she is qualified to serve as president,'' Kohut reports. "That represents a reversal of opinion since early September, shortly after the GOP convention. At that time, 52 percent said Palin was qualified to step in as president, if necessary.
"Opinion about Palin is much more strongly associated with presidential voting intentions than is opinion about Joe Biden, Palin's Democratic counterpart,'' Kohut adds.
Three-quarters of voters surveyed view Biden as well-informed, while just 45 percent say Palin is well-informed. But Palin holds "a clear advantage in perceptions of which vice-presidential candidate is down-to-earth.'' Seven-in-ten voters view Palin as down-to-earth, compared, while 55 percent say that of Biden.
Obama, for his part, has gained significant ground since his own first debate with Republican McCain, the survey of 1,258 registered conducted Saturday through Monday shows. More voters rated Obama's debate performance as excellent or good - 72 percent - than those who viewed McCain's performance favorably - 59 percent.
Pew reports on the debate in a word: ""Confident" is the word used most often by voters to describe Obama's debate performance, while "inexperienced" and "intelligent" are also mentioned frequently. Voters use the word "experienced" most commonly to describe their impressions of McCain's debate performance, followed by "old" and "knowledgeable.'''
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"Obama has moved to a 49 to 42 percent advantage among registered voters,'' Kohut notes. "The race was virtually even in mid-September and early August. Obama had not led McCain by a significant margin in a Pew survey since June.'' See the Pew poll at the link above.
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Comments
Stop the madness. Sarah Palin doesn’t even know what she doesn’t know. Sarah-six-pack should have been left in Alaska where she is a perfect fit. John McCain’s selection of Palin as appalling and reckless on every level.
I don’t care if she aces the debate with Biden. She will still fail’s us in every way. One “A” and four “F”’s is not a passing grade in this country no matter how far we continue to lower the bar. She is simply not acceptable. We deserve better….and if we are going to be honest with each other….we all know it.
Posted by: Charlie | October 1, 2008 10:33 AM
Sarah Palin has proven herself nothing but a hack mediocrity who cannot straightly answer even the most basic, the most unthreatening questions. She has lost her confidence, doesn't know what to say, and now has been reduced to performing the lamest of evasions. In the debate she will do nothing but what's left for her to do: launch puerile attacks and insults. But it won't win her any new supporters. McCain will lose big because of her.
Posted by: dsw | October 1, 2008 10:52 AM
its time for McCain to cut his losses. He might be able to slip Romney on the ticket with only minimal damage. But if things continue like this, it could be an Obama 400+ night.
Posted by: robert | October 1, 2008 11:04 AM
Just because Gov. Palin lives in Alaska does not make her "down-to-earth". From the moment she stepped onto the national scene, she has thumbed her arrogant nose at the well-intended Americans who are neither partisan Republicans or Religulous. She has revealed her true self to be a phony con-artist. And John McCain has shown that he is nothing about "country first" and everything about power and "me first". Barack Obama with his strong intelligence and thoughtfulness is the one who is truly down-to-earth. I am excited about the possibilities of his presidency.
Posted by: Judy | October 1, 2008 11:12 AM
Amen, Charlie! It's beyond frightening that she got this far and "could" conceivably become President. Maybe we're not as smart a nation as we think
Posted by: Dave | October 1, 2008 11:12 AM
The real poll is the one that opens on November 4th.
Posted by: Ryan | October 1, 2008 12:02 PM
this ladie is not running, to be mrs. america, she is running to be the president, of usa, and the only thinh, that, she no have to said, is thank, but no thank, and i a hokey mom ?
Posted by: tony | October 1, 2008 12:22 PM
What Senator McCain did to Governor Pahlin, in choosing her to be his running mate, should have everybody in America, up in arms !! She is a beginning politician, really doesn't have a handle on the national issues, nor the international issues, but Senator McCain needed a distraction from the real issues and so he chose the Governor for purely political reasons. What an insult to the women of America !! There are far too many good women, more capable, more knowledgeable and certainly, more forthright than Governor Pahlin !! If this is what we can expect as judgement on the part of Senator McCain, than, if he were elected, we will have for more years, of the Bush blunders and dishonesty. If you want that ticket to nowhere, vote for McCain-Who !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | October 1, 2008 12:32 PM
Its the conomy stupid. Imagine what this race would be like if McCain picked Governer Charlie Krist from Florida or Mitt Romney or Tom Ridge. Imagine if he picked someone qualified. But he didnt..he has shown bad judgement and does not deserve to be President.
Posted by: Wayne | October 1, 2008 1:04 PM
Wayne, Charlie Crist has been governor the same amount of time as Sarah; his best qualifecation is a nice tan.
Posted by: Flo | October 1, 2008 1:35 PM
We will trade Palin for Romney if you trade Biden for Hillary. Gotcha!! Better yet if you trade Obama for Hillary. Then I will vote democrat ticket again.
Posted by: Ruth | October 1, 2008 2:14 PM
I copied this from Gallup daily poll for today.
Gallup Daily: Obama 48%, McCain 44% NEW October 1, 2008
The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update of registered voters finds Barack Obama at 48%, and John McCain at 44%, marking a slight narrowing of the race from the 8-point margin Obama held earlier this week.
Posted by: McCain IS WORKING HIS WAY BACK UP | October 1, 2008 3:58 PM
Posted by: McCain IS WORKING HIS WAY BACK UP | October 1, 2008 3:58 PM
Check Out the RCP poll averages on the side of the page. McCain is now losing in EVERY battleground state.
Posted by: Liz | October 1, 2008 5:30 PM
Liz-give me the site. Are you looking at RCP for State or Electorate? You gotta be careful about RCP Averages. See this site.
http://theactblog.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/a-problem-in-the-rcp-average/
I usually stick with Gallup or Rasmussen to be on the safe side.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday is unchanged from the day before with Barack Obama attracting 51% of the vote while John McCain earns 45%. This is the sixth straight day that Obama has been at 50% or 51%, the sixth straight day that McCain has been at 44% or 45%, and the sixth straight day the Obama has enjoyed a five or six point lead
Posted by: McCain IS WORKING HIS WAY BACK UP | October 1, 2008 6:43 PM
The media has made every effort to destroy Governor Palin. Give her a fair chance... she might just prove you wrong in the debate tomorrow night. Then, McCain will be back on top, and this article will be meritless. It is noteworthy to mention that Obama's negatives have increased to 38% today in Rasmussen's poll - demostrating he is no longer the American favorite... despite his glowing public relations media campaign.
Posted by: Susan 2008 | October 1, 2008 6:45 PM
A friend told me he heard the LEFTIE RADIO people going on and on all shook up....I guess they took a look at some of Palin's old debates video and decided that PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE UNDERESTIMATED HER ABILITIES. I found some of the video clips>>>>WOW, this is going to be some good tv.
http://blackblogwatch.com/v1/index.cfm?method=blog_aggregate_read&entry_id=23221&lr_token=27215646
Posted by: ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE | October 1, 2008 8:52 PM