For First Time Since June McCain Leads Obama In New Rasmussen Nationwide Poll
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McCain Leading or Tied On Most Issues Important to Voters (See table below)
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the nation’s voters say they’ve seen news coverage of the McCain campaign commercial that includes images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton and suggests that Barack Obama is a celebrity just like them. Of those, just 22% say the ad was racist while 63% say it was not.
However, Obama’s comment that his Republican opponent will try to scare people because Obama does not look like all the other presidents on dollar bills was seen as racist by 53%. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree.
As for Obama’s comment, 53% of white voters saw it as racist, as did 44% of African-Americans and 61% of all other voters.
Most African-American voters-58%–saw the McCain ad as racist. Just 18% of white voters and 14% of all other voters shared that view.
Most voters favor the presumptive Democratic nominee’s proposal for a $1,000 energy credit for working families.
But voters are evenly divided on Obama’s call for a windfall profit tax on oil companies, perhaps because many fear it will lead to higher gas prices.
The survey shows that 39% of voters favor a windfall profits tax on oil companies, 36% are opposed, and 25% are not sure. Democrats favor the windfall profits tax by a 52% to 22% margin while Republicans oppose it by a nearly identical margin (55% to 23%). Unaffiliated voters are evenly divided.
Forty-two percent (42%) of voters believe a windfall profits tax will lead to higher gas prices while 12% believe it will reduce the price of gas at the pump.
There is more support for providing working families with a $1,000 energy credit-55% favor the idea and 29% are oppose. Democrats overwhelmingly endorse the concept with 67% in favor and just 19% opposed. Republicans are evenly divided. Forty-eight percent (48%) of unaffiliated voters favor the energy credit while 31% are opposed. Lower income voters strongly support the idea while upper income voters are less enthusiastic
Overall, 26% of voters expect gas prices to go up between now and Election Day. Thirty-one percent (31%) think prices will be down and 36% expect prices at the pump to stay about the same. McCain is column one and Obama column 2
| Economy | 45% | 45% | |
| National Security | 52% | 40% | |
| Energy | 46% | 42% | |
| Ethics | 44% | 46% | |
| Iraq | 51% | 39% | |
| Immigration | 45% | 36% | |
| Environment | 40% | 48% | |
| Balance Federal Budget | 43% | 40% | |
| Negotiate Trade Agreements | 45% | 40% | |
| Taxes | 47% | 40% | |
| Social Security | 44% | 38% | |
| Healthcare | 41% | 46% | |
| Education | 39% | 43% | |
| Abortion | 40% | 34% |
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows the race for the White House is tied with Barack Obama and John McCain each attracting 44% of the vote. However, when “leaners” are included, it’s McCain 47% and Obama 46%.
