NBC/WSJ Poll: Obama Holds Lead, Only 14% Of McCain Supporters "Excited"

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll is out tonight. Some key highlights:

-- Barack Obama leads John Mcain by 6 percent, 47-41, a number unchanged since last month's poll. But when Ralph Nader and Bob Barr are added as options, Obama's lead doubles to 13 points.

Obama 48
McCain 35
Nader 5
Barr 2

-- McCain has a slight edge, 46-41, when respondents were asked to identify the "safer" choice for president. But Obama is seen widely as the "riskier" choice, by a margin of 55-35.

-- McCain faces a major enthusiasm gap. Only 14 percent of his supporters say they are "excited" about him, versus 44 percent for Obama. For McCain, 43 percent describe him as the "lesser of two evils," versus 22 percent for Obama.

-- On a key issue of the day, Americans side with Obama: 60 percent believe a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq is a good idea; 30 percent do not.

-- As Eric Kleefeld notes, "Huge majorities say Obama is more likable, more compassionate and able to understand average people, offers hope and optimism for the future, and would improve America's standing in the world. But at the same time, McCain has his own lop-sided majorities on being a good commander-in-chief, and on being knowledgeable and experienced enough to handle the presidency."

More breakdown of the poll from MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and NBC News political director Chuck Todd:

Comments

[NeoStar9]

I can't wait to see what the polls say after Sen. Obama returns to the US next week. Much of this poll was taken and done before this week. It doesn't factor in change people would have gone through after seeing Obama overseas and all the mistakes, lies, and some straight vile attacks from Sen. McCain and his camp this week.

[rosal]

The problem is that only the choir knows about the senior citizen's blunders, the MSM keeps quiet, of fix it for him. How many millions are unaware of all JM's desingenuous statements?

[PuppaX]

I love how he goes up a percentage point when you add Barr & Nader.

[nellie]

Poll vaulting.

[harriscrl3]

For all the media wondering why Obama cant win all the groups to why he is not up by double digits to is his supporters losing interest he has been consistently ahead. There in lies the problem for McCain he has to wait for some monumental gaff by Obama or some scandal of epic proportions to break. And as Obama looks to be strengthening McCain is coming apart. What is ironic is that he says the media is paying Obama too much attention . I think he is right but its not positive the media is waiting like vulutres for some gaff of Obama or something that they can pick apart ad nauseaum. They would love another bittergate. But Obama looks to be learning while McCain's experience is sort of unraveling so for all the berating that Obama should be up by more he is not unifying his party yada yada. HE is still ahead. McCain needs something huge to come to light about Obama. He wants more media coverage I think he should get it in fact I want the media to scrutinize McCain like he's never seen and watch his so called experience claim falling apart.

I Wesley Clark was right McCain's experience doesnt make him qualified to President it does however make him ready for Patreous job. THe president however needs to look at the bigger picture.

Carol

[nyc4obama123]

i can't wait to see the polls that come out next week because these are last weeks polls

[pupbayer]

What are the 14% excited ABOUT?

[mypov123]

OMG Pup for the first time, I actually agree with you! lol. I bet this won't happen again LOL

[rosal]

Bland food and afternoon naps

[BWonka]

Regular bowel movements.

[BEHM777]

Oatmeal and applesauce.

BEHusseinM777

[neesy08]

beats me. death, maybe?

[Crake]

Chuck laying down some facts :)
We need to get McCains wife-beating and brothel visiting past out there in the mainstream, how can someone possibly say that man reflects their values?!

[chrissy22]

yea something is wrong we call it bias polls

[kotipup]

I have trouble understanding why the candidate who is rated most "compassionate", offering more "hope and optimism for the future, and would improve America's standing in the world", who has a better plan for the future of Iraq can still be perceived as a greater risk than his opponent. It seems like something is missing.

[robXdion]

His message is not the risk. Neither is his age. His Arabic name and muslim rumors aren't really a problem either. But his skin tone is. Give John Edwards his message and skills and this would be a 25 point lead in the polls. So people need to stop acting like they don't see and smell the 2 ton elephant sticking up the room.

[zizi]

Thank You. You said it.

[DamageControl]

Word. People are really still deciding if the country is ready for a black president yet, its the only thing holding him back.

[PuppaX]

I love Obama, but I would certainly call him riskier. Shaking things up a bit is enormously risky, offering much more potential, but also more room for danger.

McCain as perceived as the keeper of the status-quo; a situation many would find intolerable, but also predictable, and therefore less "risky."

[hardlyhikin]

Given what the "status quo" is, I'd say maintaining the status quo is the riskier position - how much more of this can the Republic withstand?