Monday, February 25, 2008

CBS National Poll: Obama leads McCain 50 to 38 percent

This is an especially interesting CBS News poll:

(CBS) A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds Barack Obama with a 16-point lead over rival Hillary Clinton among Democratic primary voters nationwide.

Obama, coming off 11 straight primary and caucus victories, had the support of 54 percent of Democratic primary voters nationally. Clinton had 38 percent support.

In a CBS News poll taken three weeks ago, shortly before Super Tuesday, Obama and Clinton were tied at 41 percent. Clinton led by 15 points nationally in January.

[....]

When all registered voters were asked who they favored in a head-to-head general election match up between Obama and McCain, Obama led by 12 percentage points, 50 to 38 percent.

In a Clinton-McCain match up, registered voters were evenly split, with 46 percent backing each candidate.

Obama beats McCain by 10 points among independents, while McCain beats Clinton by 17 points among that group.


I'm not sure how accurate this CBS News poll is, but I still find it interesting how Obama has created such a large lead over McCain. I'm wondering if this is reflective of the change message Obama has been pressing during the Democratic nomination, and perhaps how independent voters are approving this message. What is even more interesting is the reversal of the poll numbers in a McCain-Clinton match-up, where McCain beats Clinton by 17 points among independents. There is still a high negative image of Hillary Clinton among both conservatives, and perhaps independents, while McCain is still being viewed favorably as a "maverick" senator by those same independent voters.

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