Poll finds more voters see Obama as agent of change

[AlphaCentauri]

WASHINGTON: Despite an intense effort to present himself as a break from the Republican Party and the way business is done in Washington, Senator John McCain is seen by voters as far less likely to bring change to Washington than Barack Obama, and a strong majority view him as a "typical Republican" who would continue or expand President George W. Bush's policies, according to a New York Times/CBS News Poll.

Surveys taken after the Republican convention two weeks ago week suggesting that McCain had enjoyed a surge of support - particularly among white women after his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate - appear to have reflected a short-term burst of interest, according to the Times/CBS poll. The contest between the candidates appears to be roughly where it was before the two conventions and before the vice presidential selections: Obama has the support of 48 percent of registered voters, the poll indicates, compared with 43 percent for McCain.

But McCain is maintaining some core advantages, according to the poll, particularly on experience and preparedness to be president and the ability to serve as commander in chief. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said Obama was prepared to be president, compared with 71 percent who rated McCain as prepared. Fifty-two percent said it was "very likely" that McCain would be an effective commander in chief - twice as many as felt that way about Obama.

The difference in overall support between them is within the poll's margin of sampling error.

The poll underlined the extent to which McCain's Republican convention - and his selection of Palin, the governor of Alaska - had excited some Republican voters about his candidacy, no small thing in an election that continues to be so tight: 47 percent of Republican supporters described themselves as enthused about their party's presidential candidate, more than twice the percentage before the conventions.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/18/america/survey.php

[demokatgurrl]

1. DUH. they have to ASK this???? n/t