One of the things I had been really worried about when it comes to John Sidney McCain is whether or not he would ever be perceived as likable by enough people to be electable. Turns out, I need not have worried so much as the latest Gallup poll shows McCain with the highest favorables and the lowest unfavorables of all three candidates.McCAIN:
Favorable: 67%
Unfavorable: 27%
HILLARY:
Favorable: 53%
Unfavorable: 44%
OBAMA:
Favorable: 62%
Unfavorable: 33%
What is really interesting is that the unfavorable trend line for Obama has been creeping up and up as more and more people get to know the Empty Suit candidate.
But the reality of the situation is this bit:
Both Obama and Clinton have slightly higher favorable ratings among Democrats now than they had in February, suggesting that the negative infighting that has characterized the Democratic campaign in recent weeks is not damaging either candidate's image in the eyes of the party faithful.For those who think that that the infighting isn't having an effect on the general electorate, they ought to take another and closer look at these numbers...
One reason for the higher favorable ratings McCain and Obama enjoy is their cross-appeal to Americans who identify with the "other" party.
McCain gets an extraordinarily high 52% favorable from Democrats and independents who lean Democratic, while Obama gets a 39% favorable rating from Republicans and Republican leaners. Clinton, on the other hand, receives only a 20% favorable rating from Republicans and Republican leaners.
McCain is also helped by the fact that he receives an 87% favorable rating from Republicans, higher than the 80% and 79% that Clinton and Obama, respectively, currently receive from Democrats.
I think Rush Limbaugh is probably right on this one...the longer the Democrat Uncivil War continues, the better the chances for John Sidney McCain.
