McCAIN, SEEN 2-1 AS BETTER AGAINST RUSSIA, GAINS ON OBAMA

MEN AND WHITE VOTERS GO REPUBLICAN

American likely voters say 55 – 27 percent that Arizona Sen. John McCain is better qualified than Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to deal with Russia and now trails the Democrat 47 – 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.

This compares to a 50 – 41 percent Sen. Obama lead in a July 15 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

In this latest survey, Democrats say 48 – 31 percent that Obama is better qualified to deal with Russia, while Sen. McCain is seen as better by Republicans 86 – 5 percent and independent voters 55 – 24 percent.

In the presidential matchup, McCain leads 46 – 41 percent among men, up from 47 – 44 percent July 15, and 48 – 40 percent among white voters, compared to 49 – 42 percent last month. He also leads 65 – 25 percent among white Evangelical Christians, up from 61 – 29 percent.

But Obama leads 53 – 39 percent among women, compared to 55 – 36 percent last month, and 94 – 4 percent among black voters. The Democrat leads 55 – 36 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old, compared to 63 – 31 percent last month. Obama’s strength among voters 35 to 54 is up from 48 – 44 percent to 49 – 41 percent. McCain leads 47 – 40 percent among voters over 55, compared to a 45 – 44 percent split July 15.

Independent voters shift from a 44 – 44 percent split to a 45 – 39 percent Democratic tilt.

“The poll underlines Sen. Barack Obama’s strengths and weaknesses. Strengths: He leads overall and he’s strong with women, even stronger among young folks and astronomically strong with blacks. Weaknesses: Sen. John McCain beats him among white voters, men, older folks and white Catholics,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“Next week’s Democratic Convention, a week-long political campaign commercial, should help Obama – at least until the Republican Convention, a week-long celebration of McCain the following week,” Carroll added.

“In dealing with Russia, even a large minority of Democrats think McCain would do better than Obama,” Carroll added. “We’ll have to see how important this issue becomes in the Fall campaign.”

Only 20 percent of Obama supporters and 17 percent of McCain backers say they might change their mind before Election Day.
By a 52 – 30 percent margin, likely voters nationwide have a favorable opinion of Obama. McCain gets a 50 – 32 percent favorability.
A total of 89 percent of American voters say they are “entirely comfortable” or “somewhat comfortable” having a black President, while 8 percent are “somewhat uncomfortable” or “entirely uncomfortable.”

A total of 64 percent of voters say they are “entirely comfortable” or “somewhat comfortable” with a President who is 72 years old, while 34 percent are “somewhat uncomfortable” or “entirely uncomfortable.”

“More Americans are willing to admit prejudice against an older candidate than against a black candidate,” Carroll said.
The economy is the single most important issue in their vote, 52 percent of American voters say, followed by 16 percent who list the war in Iraq, 10 percent who list health care and 9 percent who cite terrorism.

Obama leads McCain 49 – 41 percent among those who list the economy, 61 – 30 percent among those who cite the war and 66 – 24 percent among those worried about health care. McCain leads 76 – 19 percent among those who worry most about terrorism.

From August 12 –17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,547 likely voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research.

For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml,