Most Say Political Conventions Boring and Waste Of Time and Money

The Democrat Convention has a NASCAR race quality about it with viewers morbidly “hoping” for a BIG crash while eschewing that idea for political correctness.

Nearly half of U.S. voters (49%) think it is at least somewhat likely that Hillary Clinton will overshadow the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama at the party’s national political convention next week. Twenty-three percent (23%) say it is Very Likely. Even 44% of Democrats think it is at least somewhat likely to happen, including 18% who say it is Very Likely.

Nearly as many voters (47%) do not expect Mrs. Clinton to overshadow Obama, although only 8% say it is Not At All Likely. Most think Obama will outshine Bill Clinton Fifty-four percent (54%) of Democrats say it isn’t likely to happen, but only 10% say it won’t happen period. The Democrat Convention has a NASCAR race quality about it with viewers morbidly “hoping” for a BIG crash while eschewing that

idea for political correctness.

Mark J. Penn, Hillary Clinton’s chief adviser during much of her unsuccessful presidential bid said Tuesday, “This year, the party that wins the battle of the conventions will likely win the election.” 56% of Democrats say they are more likely to watch the conventions this year, versus 19% who say they are less likely to watch. With Obama expected to be the first African-American presidential candidate of a major national political party, 77% of black voters say they are more likely to watch the conventions this year. A black-centric television network said it will cover the Democrat Convention but ignore the Republican convention broadcast.

By contrast, more Republicans (40%) say they are less likely to watch the conventions than those who say they are more likely to do so (31%). Unaffiliated voters are more interested in conventions, too. Forty percent (40%) say they are more likely to watch this year, as opposed to 29% who describe themselves as less likely.

Fifty-two percent of voters describe political conventions in general as boring versus 32% who say they are exciting. More Democrats rate conventions as exciting (44%) than those who characterize them as boring (35%). For 64% of Republicans and 62% of unaffiliated voters, however, conventions are boring. The enthusiasm gap is likely produced by the simmering controversy between Clinton and Obama, and the possibility of a class in Denver but the absence of the same controversy at the Republican Convention in Minnesota.

More and more say McCain will make a surprise VP Nomination and more news by anouncing his cabinet - we will see.

Forty-nine percent of voters say conventions are a waste of time and money, while 30% think they are really necessary. Democrats are closely divided; with 36% saying conventions are a waste and 39% saying they are necessary. Once again, Republicans (59%) and unaffiliateds (54%) by high margins rate them more as a waste of time.

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