CBS/NYT poll: Gas tax holiday 'bad idea,' Dems about tied as best shot against McCain Nick Langewis

Published: Sunday May 4, 2008



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Print This Email This A CBS/New York Times poll, conducted by telephone in the first three days of May, shows a majority of voters approving of Senator Obama's handling of his response to the lengthy media campaign, culminating in a stern denunciation of former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, over comments the pastor has made. Senator Clinton is seen as the "toughest" Democratic candidate, while Sens. Clinton and Obama are about tied among those polled as their preferred nominee. The data show that 60% of all registered voters (68% of Democratic primary voters in particular) approve of Obama's handling of the Wright controversy, with 52% of all voters (53% of Democratic primary voters) calling Obama's response "about right." A little less than half, 47%, of voters also saw Obama's public denunciation of the minister as a primarily political decision, with 34% seeing genuine disagreement as his motivation. 56% of registered voters say that Rev. Wright has gotten too much media coverage. 75% of registered voters (78% Dem primary voters) say their opinion of Senator Obama has not changed after media coverage of the pastor. Senators Obama and Clinton are both shown to have a fighting chance as the Democratic nominee against Republican opponent Sen. John McCain, with 53% of registered voters shown backing Clinton, and 51% for Obama, compared to 41% and 40%, respectively, for McCain. While Senator Obama is seen by a majority of those polled, 52%, as a candidate who would unite the country, Sens. Clinton (70%) and McCain (71%) lead as the person considered "tough enough" to get things done while in office. On the "gas tax holiday," those polled seem to share the view of Sen. Obama, with 70% saying the idea is being used by Sens. Clinton and McCain for political gain, rather than to help average Americans. A majority, 49% against 45%, think the proposed summer hiatus on the 18.4-cent federal gasoline tax is a bad idea. Among Democratic voters, Senator Clinton picks up a slight lead in the candidate favored to be the nominee. As of yesterday, 44% back Obama, and 45% Clinton, compared to 45% for Obama a month ago, 42% for Clinton. Among primary voters, however, 50% would support Obama, compared to 38% for Clinton. "Strong" support for Obama among supporters, notably, has taken a downward turn, with last week's 69% turning into 57% now. Obama is seen as the best change of beating McCain among Democratic primary voters as of now, with 47% against Clinton's 44%. This reflects a nine-point drop for Obama, and a 12-point gain for Clinton. Full results of the polling are available in .pdf format at CBS News.