NYT/CBS Poll: Obama Has Record High Favorability Rating

Barack Obama's favorability "is the highest for a presidential candidate running for a first term in the last 28 years" of New York Times/CBS polls.

Meanwhile, the Times reports, Sarah Palin's "negative rating is the highest for a vice-presidential candidate as measured by The Times and CBS News. Even Dan Quayle, with whom Mrs. Palin is often compared because of her age and inexperience on the national scene, was not viewed as negatively in the 1988 campaign."

A bit more from the story:

As voters have gotten to know Senator Barack Obama, they have warmed up to him, with more than half, 53 percent, now saying they have a favorable impression of him and 33 percent saying they have an unfavorable view. But as voters have gotten to know Senator John McCain, they have not warmed, with only 36 percent of voters saying they view him favorably while 45 percent view him unfavorably.

Even voters who are planning to vote for Mr. McCain say their enthusiasm has waned. In New York Times and CBS News polls conducted with the same respondents before the first presidential debate and again after the last debate, Mr. McCain made no progress in appealing to voters on a personal level, and he and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, had alienated some voters.

Personal appeal is an intangible element in voters' decisions. Each voter has a personal reason for connecting with a candidate or not. But the percentage of those who hold a favorable opinion of Mr. Obama is up 10 points since last month. Opinion of Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., Mr. Obama's running mate, is also up, to 50 percent last weekend from 36 percent in September.

In contrast, favorable opinion of Mr. McCain remained stable, and unfavorable opinion rose to 45 percent now from 35 percent in September. Mrs. Palin's negatives are up, to 41 percent now from 29 percent in September.

Comments

[PeaceOnEarth62]

Everyone should show their support on October 31 - get some pumpkins!!!
Check out this cool website http://yeswecarve.com/

Go Obama 08/12

[Shadow slayer]

Why vote Obama? Taxes lowered after our war in AFGHANISTAN is through and not Iraq. Better health care for people who already have preexisting conditions (McCain's health care doesn't cover preexisting conditions and will end in one year.) A Vice President that will answer all the questions and not the ones with answers on HER (cough Palin) note cards. Every Rep. I have debated with falls back on false facts and name calling. Ayers Group? He already proved how he wasn't involved with them and he was 8 when they were active. Now we could go on about the economy and abortion or gun rights or any issue you would like to discuss I don't have the time and space to discuss that in one comment so look at my blog on my shadow_slayer15 yahoo 360 page.

Vote Obama for change our country needs

-Billy

[caliwoman63]

You already disgusted with Sen. McCain?? I found an article referring to www.acsa.net, which describes McCain's involvement with pushing Native Americans off their land in AZ so coal mining companies could ruin it. Check it out. He is accused of human rights violations among other things. There was no or very little compensation paid to these unfortunate people, who suffered badly after being forced off their lands. Does this man have no conscience??

[LightningJoe]

McCain seems to have a talent for the politics of division. He has the same image/actions mismatch regarding POWs. While he makes hay over having been a (preferred) POW, he's taken proactive steps to end the entire POW issue prematurely, even referring to the families of (presumed, remaining) Vietnam-era POWs as nuts, for not letting go of the issue. That dovetails well with your statement about kicking Native Americans off of coal land.

IF our country valued Native Americans -- or simply stood by our agreements -- we'd bite the bullet when it comes to finding valuable resources on Native lands. We drew up and signed the treaties, didn't we? True, when we signed, we didn't think there was anything of value left on those lands, but so what? That's the nature of a contract, which a treaty most definitely is.

If we then discover that there's something valuable there after all, it's too late to take back what we've signed. We either need to negotiate a new agreement, or bite the bullet and deal with the actual contractual owners of the resource -- especially in the case of Native Lands agreements, which consign those lands to the sovereign rule of the Tribes.

But that seems to be the REAL American Way -- to make agreements that are advantageous at the time, and then go back on them when times change. No wonder respect for Americans is at an all-time low.

[jonathansg]

re the latest NYT-CBS poll - The one Happy Warrior nearly ignored in this story is Joe Biden. Of the four major candidates, he's the only one in the past month to have double digit gains with men and women and to have no increase in unfavorable ratings. It's like the old line: if the news is too good, it's not newsworthy.

[Awakenedcitizen]

Trolls have discovered Huffpost, or are these the paid agitators?

[peggyleg]

We're trolls

[JNagarya]

Definitively: uninformed liars.

[zuffaloo]

They haven't just discovered it; they've been here a while. They just go through periods of greater & lesser activity - usually in response to certain types of news.

[SMAGGIE]

lgaide:

Sorry, this is just some more campaigning for your savior and HE is NOT my savior and to think he MAY be the president of our country, scares the H*LL out of me. We will not longer be the United States of America. Who knows what we will end up being? I love this country and would like it to stay the United States Of America, so why does he want to CHANGE everything? He has not told us about his NWO and I doubt he will. He has not explained so many things about himself and has had lawsuits against him, somehow, postponed until after the election. Could he be hiding lots of secrets? I think he is and it is time he told the truth about those lawsuits. He figures, NO HE IS SO ARROGANT, he thinks he is already president and when that happens, he can throw all laws out the window if it pertains to him. My opinion and it is my right.

[kadene]

Ask Sarah Palin and First Dud Todd about splitting up the United States. he belonged to a party that advocated Alaska's separation from the Union, and she addressed their conference sometime this year, telling them how much she admires them.

I have no intention of voting for those who have brought America to the brink of destruction, and who now through an election campaign, are seeking to further divide it.

[peggyleg]

kadene, turn off the democratic talking points, the only negative remarks that are actually coming from the republican candidates happen to be true. And Obama is the one sitting there continually talking about how 'how this rhetoric is dividing the country. I hate to say this, but the country has always been separated when it comes to politics.

[enlighteninglad]

You believe too much right wing propaganda. But its your right so by all means, go ahead.

[proudliberal4truth]

You'll be in my prayers tonight. Mental incompetence is a terrible burden, but they are making great strides in medicine and I'm sure pharmaceuticals will be available soon. Try to hang on dear.

[sonomarc]

You can lance that festering sore and feel a lot better....

[Reaganwater]

When you call for Palin to do her FIRST press conference , Mac to release his FULL medical records and Palin to release any medical records at all , then maybe some of your hypocritical drivel will be taken seriously .

[peggyleg]

Done, if Obama will
1. release his doctorate thesis (we've seen Michelles' and she's pretty mad at this country)
2. release any of his works that he wrote while teaching law at Harvard (they have all mysteriously disappeared, can you imagine)?
3. Release his medical records, including a recent chest x-ray (due to the fact that he smokes).
4. Release his party's list of all it's contributors, I believe they were do on the 18th Of October, but nothing so far.
5. Release his college transcripts, all 8 to 10 years.

hypoctical drivel? Not here.

[SMAGGIE]

There is no wonder to that headline. Obama can tell ALL LIES with a smile on his face. Most of you Obamamaniacs believe him. I thought by now all adult citizens, would realize the president DOES NOT have the ability to do ANYTHING BY HIMSELF. There is a Congress involved in every bill or suggestion made. Maybe YOU CAN TELL ME, how will my taxes be lowered, I DO NOT PAY TAXES, at least not to the IRS. From what I understand, about 40% of the population does not pay income taxes, what will he do for them? He is a bundle of empty suits and has no experience to take care of our country. Certainly, NOT enough sense to be the CIC. Stop and think about our safety, please. He seems to want to rid our country of all our power to stay free. He wants to re-organize our military, but what does that mean? He has never said, actually just about anything we ask him he just ignores it and tries to let it go away.

[JustAProgressive]

A fine whine.

[kadene]

SMAGGIE, you're a pill! I am laughing so hard!

If Barack Obama were spotted pink, striped like a zebra, polka-dot or white, I''d vote for him. Why? Because he makes sense. His vision for America, his world view, his sense of mission and his consistency, steadiness during a crisis, are the tell-tale signs of someone worthy to take the highest office in our nation in the 21st century. Stop for awhile and examine McCain's behavior and the sum of his antics over the last few weeks. You criticize his vision? No problem; just tell us McCain's. As for who surrounds the President in his decision making, I am sure Mr. Obama will be surrended by the finest minds in this nation to guide him at his post. I'm also sure, that the same destructive strategies of the last eight years will be handed to McCain by the same coven that huddled around GWBush. Scariest of all yet, is his choice of a VP. I rest my case.

[mamased]

Smaggie, Smaggie, Smaggie -

If we had national health care perhaps you could get something to help with those paranoid delusions.

Darlin' 99% of what you believe just isn't reality based. Your world needn't be this scary.

It may be a natural chemical imbalance causing your problems.

I hope you get help.

[Texas4Blue]

Woah, "Rid our country of all our power to stay free", fear for you're safety; I'm sorry, but it seems you are reliving the last 8 years of the Bush/Cheney administration; Bless you and I understand; but, it will be behind you in about two weeks, and you too, will start sleeping again; with hope and a new beginning in Obama~Biden!

[Awakenedcitizen]

s,maggie, relax, if people like these support obama, you don't need to be afraid.
Christopher Buckley
Colin Powell
Susan Eisenhower
200 former US Diplomats (only 100 support McCain)
Paul Volcker, Chairman of the Federal Reserve 1979-1987
Lawrence Korb, who served as an assistant Defense secretary in the Reagan administration
John Brennan president and chief executive officer of the Analysis Corp., an intelligence contractor . A 25-year CIA veteran, Brennan became the first director of the National Counterterrorism Center in 2004, and he now chairs the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, a professional association.

Also, smaggie, you are worried about how Obama wishes to reorganize the military. Knowledge can take away fear: the entire plan is on www.barackobama.com Read it for yourself.

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain October 21, 2008

I am really confused now. Senator John McCain, you just got through criticizing Senator Barack Obama because he was on Wood's Charity Board where the past terrorist Bill Ayers was on this Board in Chicago. Now we see you in New York at a similar Charity Board Group with Senator Barack Obama there, Senator Hillary Clinton,etc. Aren't you afraid to be around Senator Barack Obama whom you labeled as a terrorist. I must think this over myself too before I'm for Sen. Obama.

It's sad that Moderator Bob Schieffer at Hoffstra Univetrsity Third Final Presidential Debate of 08 cut offSenator Barack Obama from answering Senator John McCain's comments that Bill Ayers thought there should be more 911's which was awful to say and that Senator Obama should denounced this. Senator Obama said he had on his Charity Board high positioned people like head of Universities so does this mean the other 9 are terrorists too? Of course not. This never put on TV or elsewhere later. When wanting to help others compassionately so and are on Charity Board where he did not even choose bad guy Ayers on it does one leave that and let poor die as could happen or does one stay involved,bring life to people and contributions to make America Strong loyally and prosperous. One cannot find a job from gutter.

Eva Hart A Christian In Army from 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109

[JNagarya]

Idjit: Obama is not responsible for what other individuals say. Therefore it is not his responsible to "denounce" what they say -- which is the equivalent of denouncing freedom of speech.

If you believe otherwise, then when will McSame be denouncing the terrorism of unrepenent CONVICTED FELON G. Gordon Liddy? WHEN?

[patriotvet]

Obama and his real experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elBQYHvM9Ew

[peggyleg]

Thank you, patriotvet, and thank you for your service to our country.

McCain/Palin '08

[rubyrube]

Military choosing a presidential candidate has too many variables to get an actual acount of favorability.
However the Police and the Firemens organizations of America have choose Obama!

They know hes the best to lead our nation!
Ive changed my vote- ive seen the light.
Obama- Biden 08

[peggyleg]

Rubyrube, that first statement just isn't true. Maybe you missed it, there is a magazine called the Armed Services Journal, I believe that is the name, anyway, this magazine is subscribed to by vets, active duty, in all branches (army, navy aif force, marines, coast guard) and their poll from Oct. 12-19, 2008 says that : a) active duty military: McCain 71%, Obama 23%; retired vets: McCain 70% Obama21%.

Now, here's the real shocker: military(active) african american: McCain 18%, Obama 79% military (active) caucasian american: McCain 71%,Obama 22% results + or - 4%
As far as your other statement on police officers and firemen, where's you get that? Not in the state I live in, because McCain has been endorsed in my state by both police and firemen.

[robertogt]

Has Diebold or ES&S weighted in on this yet? I recommend watching "Hacking Democracy" on HBO

[TRUTHSTER08]

Are you people serious? My lunch is about to exit after reading the Liberal Retardation in this site. The hypocracy you folks operate with is beyond the pale. Your polls are as honest as your man Edwards. Ooops, I forgot hes the invisible man now. Mayby your polls are as honest as Slick Willie. You folks are laughable at best. I love the way you edit your comments. Its amazing only one view is allowed, a true Democracy. Staw polls here at our sales counter has MCcain by a large margin, relatives in other areas report the same. Go MCcain.

[mudbones]

Please, let's not talk about honesty...it's something your side is surely lacking........

[Bitsko]

Love your spelling.

[peskyliberal]

It funny how the truth tends to have a "Liberal" bias.

[Eoin45]

TRUHSTER08, I love your satire of an ignorant right winger, right down to the ironic screename. You really nailed it with the lack of evidence cited for any of the claims made. The spelling and grammatical errors really helped too.

[Bitsko]

Whew. Nice catch, Eoin45. TRUTHSTER08 really had me fooled there! For a second I thought it really was in support of the folks who have brought this country to the brink of disaster on so many fronts.

[ecsiwingo]

In my college statistics class the first book we had to read was "How to Lie With Statistics"

You guys mut have used it.

[hotstuff]

Military don't say who they support, unless it secretly done, because older officers tend to vote repub's, and chasise those who don't!

[Bitsko]

The republicans are the party of officers. The democrats are the party of NCO's and non-coms. BTW, for the first time in decades, the majority of service members registered to vote are not republicans. Who needs officers anyway? They're only spoiled elitists, at best.

[Liberoservative]

Hey...

I am an officer and I am for Obama... so don't lump us all into some anti'Obama group. :)

[mamased]

I've been chasised by a superior office and let me tell you it was not fun.

[Awakenedcitizen]

they don't have to, overseas soldiers are contributing to Obama 6:1 over mcCain.

[Squigibo]

The poll asked current serving military and veterans. The majority of people associated with the military are retired veterans to which connect with McCain and many served in Vietnam. But the donations coming in from active military are 6 to 1 for Obama. So of course it's skewed.

[Petey131]

Even the "36 percent of voters" that view McCain favorably are brain-dead or on some type of medication. Anyone who sees mcCain as favorable must not be seeing how he is trashing and dividing America.

[OrbitOfOurOwn]

OR they don't care OR they encourage it. That is a hard-core group. They are a different type of person who can only feel good about themselves by beating on someone else.

[profounddogs]

I second that emotion.

[Bitsko]

They must have serious mental issues if they intend to vote to continue the Bush policies that have brought this country to the brink of catastrophe.