Poll: McCain's Age Problem

A new poll from the NBC and the Wall Street Journal finds that voters have problems voting for a candidate of McCain's age, apparently far more than object to supporting either an African American or female candidate. MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell previewed the poll earlier today (the full results will be announced later tonight):

O'DONNELL: Here's what the voters think according to a brand new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released just this afternoon. 71% say Americans are ready to elect a woman as president, 20% say no. The results are nearly identical when voters were asked whether Americans were ready to elect an African-American as president. 72% said yes and 18% said no. We will have more on this NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll tonight.

We also asked about in that number about McCain's age and how many people want to elect someone his age. Less people want to elect someone McCain's age than want to elect an African-American or a woman. We're going to have more of those poll results. NBC Washington bureau chief Tim Russert will have more of those details on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and of course on Hardball tonight.

Comments

[eronbo]

See this blog post re McCain's biggest age problem:

http://politicalitch.blogspot.com/2008/03/dementia-mccains-most-difficult-medical.html

[Janus]

This responsive post submitted to NEOCON43, infra, who asserted that McCain will tie half his brain behind him to equal Obama or Clinton in a debate:

PER DESMIRL:

"McCain, who graduated 5th from the bottom of his class at Annapolis, McCain who trashed two perfectly good aircraft while he was fumbling around trying to learn to fly, McCain who doesn't know the difference between Sunni and Shiite.... When he has to debate somone who was the editor of the Harvard Law Review, he will look old, tired, and completely out of the loop."

Obama as President of the Harvard Law Review and Hillary Clinton, a Yale graduate who was among the top 100 lawyers consecutively for awhile in the rankings some years ago while she was in Arkansas, means absolutely nothing to a Dupe, so many of whom seem barely literate. They are best judged by the groundless bilge they smear on these boards.

[Quaoar]

His age wouldn't make a difference if there were a competent and ethical Republican to be his Vice President. Unfortunately, competent and ethical Republicans are extinct.

[LeftLeaner]

I disagree.

You are voting for the President - NOT the VP, although, that should be a consideration.

It the Presidential nominee doesn't pass the smell test, move on.

[Nova16]

What happened to my comment?

[Seattlelite]

DUH! Just look at photo's of presidents when they start and 4 years later -- that job ages these people faster than a drug using party going rock star. My in-laws are in their seventies, they are pretty with it but they've got issues.......sit them in a chair for more than 3 minutes and they are fast asleep. They say it's because they don't sleep well at night because they get up a few times to pee.They repeat stuff they've told you a thousand times. Interrupt their daily routine and you've got a train wreck on your hands. I love my end laws great people, just wish they would stop calling me Lynn ( my husband's deceased wife's name) LOL.

[KQuark]

I have always said voting for McCain is voting for a second term Reagan so I hope people like Cynthia McCain as their president. My wife disagrees with me but I think their should be an age limit for a candidate running for the oval office. I mean their is an age minimum 35 why not an age maximum for a fist term like 70? Fortunately for the country I think Americans will impose an age maximum in their votes.

BTW for Hillary supporters I understand if you do not want to support Obama but it is ridiculous to vote for McCain. If you don't like Obama vote for Hillary if she is not nominated of VP.

[bodi1313]

For me Obama's lack of experience, and Rev. Wright are a bigger problem.

[KQuark]

I think being a mumbling moron is a much bigger problem for McCain. Give it a rest new polls show that it's Hillary's negatives that are going sky high not Obama's. Hillary supporters would do well to leave the Wright story where it belongs in the pews. I guess voters care more about what the candidate says then what their preacher says which is the way it should be.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/26/821438.aspx

[GeraldineFerraro]

i agree. I am not concerned about none of the right wing pastors backing McCain. none of them.

I like you, am looking for the kind of experience that McCain and Clinton have. With all of McCain's years in the senate, in the army, on the campaign trail (i.e. getting knee capped back in 2000 by W,) led him to make some awesome choices like the authorizing W to invade Iraq.

Im sure you and i agree that his vote on that war (and my girl Hillary's) has been the most experienced decision he has ever made.

[kellygrrrl]

why is there no mention of today's poll showing 28% of Clinton's supporters saying they will vote for McCain over Obama? I have never met one person who feels that way. Why not just send your kids off to Iraq or Iran now and send every penny you have to Dick Cheney? It is time for all Dems to come back to Reality and focus.

[nellie]

When it comes to the presidency, I admit to being an agist. I don't want anyone older than 65 elected. That puts the person's age at 73 after two terms in office. That's as old as I want the president to be. I don't care if 50 is the new 30. That job requires mental and physical conditions to be at their peak. Most people are retiring at 65. I think that's a reasonable cap for the age of someone taking the most difficult job in the country.

[michael538]

THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE: AGE.
30% of people over 71 yrs of age suffer from some degree of memory impairment- as of the news just last week.

AND I WOULD LIKE SOME REPUBLICAN THAT COULD GET THE WHOLE IRAQ THING RIGHT.

THE IRAQIS ARE PRESENTLY USING THE SAME INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES (WITH AMERICAN COMPLICITY) THAT SADDAM USED WHEN HE HAD THE REIGNS OF POWER.

SHAME SHAME SHAME

[rzan]

I think his age is the least of his problems.

[ajax2]

I don't see an age problem for McCain. Remember Reagan told the country and the prosecutor that he didn't remember trading with terrorists. Everyone including the prosecutor believed him because Reagan was senile. So it could be an asset. Who doesn't like checkers and shuffle board, and dinner at 4 PM?

[dutchess2]

http://www.newsmax.com/john_leboutillier/mccain_hillary_obama/2008/03/25/82836.html

[nellie]

I'm not sure how this article can assert that McCain—who supports every single policy that Bush supports—is somehow a Democrat in disguise. I can only surmise that this is an attempt to build support for McCain by saying he's better than the other two Democrats. More doublespeak from NewsMax.

[GotRights]

I won't put much stock in this poll. People tend to lie to pollsters about their racism and sexism, so the "woman" and "African-American" numbers likely aren't accurate.

[dutchess2]

Someone bookmark this one.... I'm sorry to say, both McCain and Joe Leiberman have asked for this.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/25/AR2008032502294.html

[MikeMidCity]

Now that's funny.