CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL
For release: Monday, February 25, 2008
6:30pm ET
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
February 20-24, 2008
Riding a wave of 11 straight primary and caucus victories, Barack
Obama now holds a sizeable edge over Hillary Clinton on qualities such
as electability in November, caring about people, inspiring the
nation, and ability to work across the aisle. This momentum is
reflected, too, in the national lead Obama has now opened up in
preference for the nomination.
While both candidates have made much of their policy differences on
the key issues of Iraq and Health Care, voters see only minor
differences between the two.
Many more Democratic primary voters think Obama, not Clinton, is best
able to beat Senator John McCain, the likely Republican nominee.
59% think Obama has the best chance while just 28% think Clinton does.
Even a fifth of Clinton’s supporters, 18%, thinks Obama has the best
chance against McCain, although two thirds of her voters think she
does.
WHO HAS BEST CHANCE OF BEATING MCCAIN?
(Among Democratic Primary Voters)
Clinton
Obama
All
Voters
Voters
Obama
59%
18%
90%
Clinton
28
63
5
CARING, INSPIRATION AND COOPERATION
Obama is now much more likely than Clinton to be seen as caring a lot
about people like them, among Democratic primary voters nationwide
(both those who’ve cast ballots in their states already and those yet
to do so.)
63% say Obama cares a lot, up dramatically in the last few weeks.
Today less than half, 46%, see Clinton as caring a lot.
HOW MUCH DOES… CARE ABOUT YOU?
(Among Democratic Primary Voters)
Obama
Clinton
Now 1/08
Now 1/08
A lot
63% 49%
46% 38%
Some
28
42
35
46
Not much/None
7
8
18
15
Obama’s increase on this comes from a boost among women, who say he
cares about them: 61% now say he cares a lot, up from 52% who said so
before Sup