Obama backers gleeful, McCain's glum: AP poll
Sunday, 2 November 2008
WASHINGTON, Nov 01, (AP): That smiling guy walking down the street? Odds are he's a Barack Obama backer. The grouchy looking one? Don't ask, and don't necessarily count on him to vote on Tuesday (November 04), either.
More John McCain supporters feel glum about the presidential campaign while more of Obama's are charged up over it, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll released Saturday.
The survey shows McCain backers have become increasingly upset in recent weeks, a period that has seen Obama take a firm lead in many polls. One expert says the contrasting moods could affect how likely the two candidates' supporters are to vote on Election Day, possibly dampening McCain's turnout while boosting Obama's.
While 43 per cent of the Democrat Obama's backers said they are excited over the campaign, just 13 per cent of McCain's said so, according to the survey of adults, conducted by Knowledge Networks. Six in 10 Obama supporters said the race interests them, compared to four in 10 backing McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona.
On the flip side, 52 per cent of McCain supporters said the campaign has left them frustrated, compared to 30 per cent of Obama's. A quarter of McCain backers say they feel helpless, double the rate of those preferring Obama, the Illinois senator.
More McCain supporters also feel angry and bored, while Obama's are likelier to say they are proud and hopeful.
All of this is a bad sign for McCain, according to George E. Marcus, a political scientist from Williams College who has studied the role emotion plays in politics. Negative feelings about a campaign can discourage voters by making them less likely to go through what can be a painful process: Voting for someone who will lose.
Supporters of McCain cite a dislike for Obama, dissatisfaction with the campaign's tone and frustration with how news organizations have treated their candidate.
Many Democrats say they're energized by a candidate they perceive as different from most politicians and who can make a real difference.
Enthusiasm by Obama backers has largely stayed steady since September, though slightly more of them - 31 per cent - now say the campaign makes them feel proud.
Forty-eight per cent of those under age 30 who support Obama say they are excited over the race, compared to just 21 per cent of those young voters who back McCain. That age group has been a reservoir of strong support for the Democrat.
Just 44 per cent of whites supporting the Republican say the campaign interests them, compared to 58 per cent of whites and 72 per cent of blacks supporting Obama.
Another AP report from Las Vegas adds: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama looked to pick up three red states on the final Saturday of the campaign, while Republican John McCain defended GOP turf before breaking to appear on "Saturday Night Live."
The candidates' travel plans heading into the campaign's final weekend had them almost completely focused on states that President Bush won in 2004.
"We are four days away from changing the United States of America," Obama told voters Friday night in Indiana, one of about a half-dozen Republican states that remains up for grabs late this election season.
McCain's campaign argued the Arizona senator was closing the gap in the final days and he was closer than reflected in public polling. Privately, McCain's aides said he trailed Obama by four points nationwide in internal polling.
Another report by Reuters from New York adds: Wall Street hopes to turn a new page as it heads into November, but next week is littered with hurdles ranging from the U.S. presidential election to a likely gloomy jobs report.
Traders were more than happy to see the back of October, one of the worst months in history for the broader market, and took heart from the fact that it ended with one of the best weeks on record.
This week's strength came as the host of efforts by central banks and governments to ease credit strains began to bear fruit, and volatility abated slightly. Bargain hunting and funds buying stocks to rebalance their portfolios also helped boost stocks.
For the first part of next week, Wall Street -- like the rest of America -- will turn its attention to Tuesday's presidential election.
Investors will likely assess the possibility of quick fiscal stimulus after the election and the risk of protectionist measures or more regulation.
Thomson Reuters data shows that on average the 60 days preceding a new presidential term yield positive returns, suggesting that the lack of uncertainty after elections usually gives the market a boost.
More John McCain supporters feel glum about the presidential campaign while more of Obama's are charged up over it, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll released Saturday.
The survey shows McCain backers have become increasingly upset in recent weeks, a period that has seen Obama take a firm lead in many polls. One expert says the contrasting moods could affect how likely the two candidates' supporters are to vote on Election Day, possibly dampening McCain's turnout while boosting Obama's.
While 43 per cent of the Democrat Obama's backers said they are excited over the campaign, just 13 per cent of McCain's said so, according to the survey of adults, conducted by Knowledge Networks. Six in 10 Obama supporters said the race interests them, compared to four in 10 backing McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona.
On the flip side, 52 per cent of McCain supporters said the campaign has left them frustrated, compared to 30 per cent of Obama's. A quarter of McCain backers say they feel helpless, double the rate of those preferring Obama, the Illinois senator.
More McCain supporters also feel angry and bored, while Obama's are likelier to say they are proud and hopeful.
All of this is a bad sign for McCain, according to George E. Marcus, a political scientist from Williams College who has studied the role emotion plays in politics. Negative feelings about a campaign can discourage voters by making them less likely to go through what can be a painful process: Voting for someone who will lose.
Supporters of McCain cite a dislike for Obama, dissatisfaction with the campaign's tone and frustration with how news organizations have treated their candidate.
Many Democrats say they're energized by a candidate they perceive as different from most politicians and who can make a real difference.
Enthusiasm by Obama backers has largely stayed steady since September, though slightly more of them - 31 per cent - now say the campaign makes them feel proud.
Forty-eight per cent of those under age 30 who support Obama say they are excited over the race, compared to just 21 per cent of those young voters who back McCain. That age group has been a reservoir of strong support for the Democrat.
Just 44 per cent of whites supporting the Republican say the campaign interests them, compared to 58 per cent of whites and 72 per cent of blacks supporting Obama.
Another AP report from Las Vegas adds: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama looked to pick up three red states on the final Saturday of the campaign, while Republican John McCain defended GOP turf before breaking to appear on "Saturday Night Live."
The candidates' travel plans heading into the campaign's final weekend had them almost completely focused on states that President Bush won in 2004.
"We are four days away from changing the United States of America," Obama told voters Friday night in Indiana, one of about a half-dozen Republican states that remains up for grabs late this election season.
McCain's campaign argued the Arizona senator was closing the gap in the final days and he was closer than reflected in public polling. Privately, McCain's aides said he trailed Obama by four points nationwide in internal polling.
Another report by Reuters from New York adds: Wall Street hopes to turn a new page as it heads into November, but next week is littered with hurdles ranging from the U.S. presidential election to a likely gloomy jobs report.
Traders were more than happy to see the back of October, one of the worst months in history for the broader market, and took heart from the fact that it ended with one of the best weeks on record.
This week's strength came as the host of efforts by central banks and governments to ease credit strains began to bear fruit, and volatility abated slightly. Bargain hunting and funds buying stocks to rebalance their portfolios also helped boost stocks.
For the first part of next week, Wall Street -- like the rest of America -- will turn its attention to Tuesday's presidential election.
Investors will likely assess the possibility of quick fiscal stimulus after the election and the risk of protectionist measures or more regulation.
Thomson Reuters data shows that on average the 60 days preceding a new presidential term yield positive returns, suggesting that the lack of uncertainty after elections usually gives the market a boost.