Voters (Heart) Obama, But Think Like McCain
ILLUSTRATION BY JOE CIARDIELLO FOR USN&WR
This election is starting to look like a tragic play, one where the heart fights the brain. Polls show that voters are passionate about Sen. Barack Obama. Even 23-year-old Meghan McCain thinks he's "cute." But when they consider where the candidates stand on the political spectrum, voters find themselves closer to Sen. John McCain. The latest evidence comes to us from the Winston Group, which just asked voters where they stand ideologically compared with Obama, the Democrat, and Republican McCain.
Winston Group Senior Vice President Myra Miller says most voters see themselves as center-right. On a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being very liberal, 5 moderate, and 9 very conservative, the average voter is at 5.85. Miller says voters put McCain just to their right, at 5.94. And Obama is off to the left at 4.1.
So is it a lock for McCain? Well, yes, no—and maybe. "Because they are ideologically closer to McCain, voters will be more inclined to hear what he has to say and be open to his ideas, presenting McCain with a structural advantage toward building a center-right majority coalition," says Miller. However, she adds, "it is not a given that voters will vote for a candidate that they are closer to ideologically. Voters still want to hear ideas and what a candidate is going to do, especially in this environment." So keep on talking, guys.
Tags: presidential election 2008 | Barack Obama | John McCain | polls
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Reader Comments
This is not science
Seriously. Every step is subjective. From the questions ("Do you think that we should have higher taxes?") to the rankings of individuals ("How far left do you THINK Obama is? How far to the right do you THINK McCain is", or, sometimes by experts, "We estimate by voting records and speeches that they are this far left/right"), to the following quantitative analysis (weighing the answers, etc.)
And that's the best case scenario. The other option is that they literally asked, on a scale of 1-9, how liberal/conservative individuals believed themselves and the candidates to be. And judging from how I respond (and I bet most people respond) to questions like that, it's almost completely arbitrary.
But the results are printed like they're tested, proven scientific facts, and then repeated by lazy bloggers and journalists looking for a fast story.
We need to take more responsibility regarding polling information: Most of it is bunk. It needs to be treated as such.
Honest Self Appraisal
I look into the mirror and do not like what I see. In my heart I want another Camelot, a raising of the bar for all Americans. I certainly don't want another Bush and pray for this nightmare to end. But my head tells me that Obama is pretty but empty rhetoric. His youth and inexperience bother me. But since I too am a senior, I am well aware of the cognitive lapses prone to me and my peers. McCain is well into his doters and is inconsistent. These are my choices? I thought Hillary would be a refreshing change but she self-destructed and her essential character leaked out for all to see. Maybe if Obama is paired with an experienced statesman I would feel better but Edwards and Gore are not inclined. The choice of Veep is very important to my head, my heart wants the democratic ticket.
Obama sweetie and darling of the press
Everybody loves Obama being so cute and sweetie and the media adores him - all is well - but so empty and inexperienced. Obama could say something repugnant and politically incorrect and empty rhetorics but with a formal speeches, (whether or not our questions were answered) the media readily accepts his speech and embellish them to his advantage served on a golden platter.
I'll honor McCain and the sacrifice that he gave to our country with my vote.
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