5/2/2008

They aren't buying what Obama's selling

Already trailing in Indiana and with his lead shrinking in North Carolina, this new Rasumssen poll looks to be a bad omen for Barack Obama:

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 30% of the nation's Likely Voters believe Barack Obama denounced his former Pastor, Jeremiah Wright, because he was outraged. Most-58%--say he denounced the Pastor for political convenience.

From where are people getting that idea? Wright has said as much several times, including during his bombastic performance at the National Press Club:



And, according to Wright in a New York Times interview from last year, the move to drop Wright from Obama's campaign announcement event was political calculation:

According to the pastor, Mr. Obama then told him, "You can get kind of rough in the sermons, so what we've decided is that it's best for you not to be out there in public."

Furthermore, voters aren't buying Obama's outrage over Wright's remarks:

Only 33% of voters believe that Obama was surprised by the views Wright expressed at Monday's press conference. Fifty-two percent (52%) say he was not surprised.

But this is the worst news for Obama is this poll:

Fifty-six percent (56%) say it's at least somewhat likely that Obama "shares some of Pastor Wright's controversial views about the United States." That figure includes 26% who say it's Very Likely Obama holds such views. At the other end of the spectrum 24% say it's Not Very Likely that Obama shares such views. Just 11% say it's Not at All Likely.

Just 7% of the nation's voters agree with Wright's views of the United States. African-American voters, by a 64% to 12% margin, disagree with Wright. Eighty-one percent (81%) of all voters are following the story somewhat or very closely. ...

... Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans believe it's somewhat or very likely that Obama shares some of Wright's views. That assessment is shared by 48% of Democrats and 49% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Democrats are evenly divided as to whether or not Obama was surprised by Wright's comments on Monday. Republicans overwhelmingly reject that notion. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 36% say Obama was surprised while 45% disagree.

Just 36% of Democrats believe outrage was the motivation for Obama to denounce his former Pastor. That view is shared by 38% of unaffiliated voters and 16% of Republicans.

Ouch. Having 48% of Democrats and 49% of independents believing that it's somewhat or very likely that Obama and Wright's worldviews are shared doesn't bode well for him heading into next Tuesday's primaries.

And as one might expect, Wright's not exactly a very popular guy right now:

Nine percent (9%) of voters have a favorable opinion of Wright. Eight-one percent (81%) have an unfavorable view. That includes 62% with a Very Unfavorable opinion.

And you thought George W. Bush was hated...

Is Rev. Wright kerfuffle enough to doom Barack Obama's campaign? Tell us what you think by voting in the new reader opinion poll to your right.

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Filed Under: Race for President

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