In a teaser to the NYT/CBS Poll being released later today, Barack Obama has a stunning lead over John McCain in voter perception of who is spending his time making it clear what he would do if elected, rather than attacking the other candidate:
Obama: 56%
McCain: 38%
That's an Obama +18% spread!
The breakdown is even more incredible. Nearly HALF of Republicans actually think that Obama is spending most of his time talking about real issues, rather than attacking John McCain!
UPDATE - Final Poll Numbers (thanks Shinigami for the full poll poll results):
With Leaners: O50 M44 (O+6)
Without Leaners: O48 M43 (O+5)
From http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/...
The New York TImes/CBS News Poll indicates that earlier in the summer, "both candidates were thought to be running positive campaigns". However:
In the latest poll, a majority of voters, 56 percent, said Mr. Obama is spending his time making it clear what he would do if elected, rather than attacking the Republican candidate. Most voters say the opposite of Mr. McCain. Only 38 percent of those polled said Mr. McCain was explaining what he would do as president, while 53 percent said he was attacking Mr. Obama. In July, 63 percent of the voters surveyed said Mr. McCain was running a positive campaign.
Here are the crosstabs, as to those who see a campaign attacking the other candidate instead of as spelling out what they would do as president:
Think Obama is attacking McCain, rather than talking about issues:
55% Republicans, 36% Independents, 19% Democrats
Think McCain is attacking Obama, rather than talking about issues:
31% Republicans, 44% Independents, 76% Democrats
Those are stunning numbers. Think about it:
Nearly HALF of the Republicans feel that Obama is talking about issues that matter. TWO THIRDS of Independents, and four-fifths of Democrats (wtf do the other Democrats think??).
For John McCain, more than half of the independents, and nearly ONE THIRD of of his own party think that he's NOT talking about issues.
The final poll numbers will be interesting, but the spread on who's being substantive -- Obama +18 -- is HUGE. Obviously, people are starting to pay attention to stuff other than lipstick and pigs.
UPDATE thanks to Shinigami: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Actual Poll Results: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/...
With Leaners: O50 M44 (O+6)
Without Leaners: O48 M43 (O+5)
Actual results are at the top of Page 5 for Leaners/no leaners.