Poll: Obama holds a 2 to 1 edge over McCain among the nation's low-wage workers

[Hope And Change]

HARDEST HIT Low-Wage Workers

Obama Leads, Pessimism Reigns Among Key Group

By Michael D. Shear and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, August 4, 2008; Page A01

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama holds a 2 to 1 edge over Republican Sen. John McCain among the nation's low-wage workers, but many are unconvinced that either presidential candidate would be better than the other at fixing the ailing economy or improving the health-care system, according to a new national poll.

Obama's advantage is attributable largely to overwhelming support from two traditional Democratic constituencies: African Americans and Hispanics. But even among white workers -- a group of voters that has been targeted by both parties as a key to victory in November -- Obama leads McCain by 10 percentage points, 47 percent to 37 percent, and has the advantage as the more empathetic candidate.

Still, one in six of the white workers polled remains uncommitted to either candidate. And a majority of those polled, both white and minority, are ambivalent about the impact of the election, saying that no matter who wins, their personal finances are unlikely to change.

"It's not my main concern in life," said Mary Lee, 50, a factory worker in rural Kentucky. "I know how politics is. I really don't think it's going to matter either way."

More than disaffection drives these workers, according to the new national poll by the Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University.


more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080301969.html


Methodology...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/hardesthit/images/assets/Poll.pdf?hpid=topnews

[luckyleftyme2]

1. You can count on it

You better believe the poor and working poor will win this election. the crap won't fly this time.

[ingac70]

2. What the hell is wrong with those 37% low wage white workers?n/t

[Alter Ego]

3. Huh.

Guess even the African-American latte-sipping librul has some charms after all. :P

[scheming daemons]

4. Alternate headline: 37% of America's low-wage workers are idiots

...who vote against their own self-interest