Here are the latest results from the New York poll by Rasmussen Reports published on USAElectionPolls.com:
There were 500 voters polled on 8/4.
| Rasmussen Reports Date: 8/4 New York Added: 8/7/08 |
|
| Barack Obama | 52% |
| John McCain | 32% |
| Unsure | 8% |
| Other | 8% |
Quote:
"Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain are about even among white voters. But - just as in the Democratic primaries against Sen. Hillary Clinton - Obama's a big winner among black and young voters. And now he gets the women 2 - 1," Carroll added.Because of his age, 26 percent of New York State likely voters say they are less likely to vote for McCain. Obama's race won't affect their vote, 89 percent say.
"New Yorkers insist they're not prejudiced against a black candidate, but one out of four admit to being biased against an older candidate," Carroll said.
The economy is the biggest issue in their vote in November, 53 percent of voters say, followed by 17 percent who list the war in Iraq and 11 percent who cite health care.
New York State likely voters disapprove 75 - 21 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing and say 68 - 26 percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.
But voters split 48 - 48 percent on whether the U.S. should begin an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq with an 18-month timetable to complete the withdrawal or keeping troops in Iraq until the situation is stable, with no fixed date for full withdrawal.
"The Iraq war continues to divide us by party. Republicans think it was the right thing to do; Democrats disagree. And, maybe because of Obama's new tone, there's a big shift in what we should do in Iraq. New Yorkers split down the middle between an immediate troop withdrawal and staying as long as needed," Carroll said. Obama leads 47% to 36% among men in the Empire State and 56% to 28% among women. He’s also backed by 78% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans. Among unaffiliated voters, Obama has a 45% to 27% advantage over McCain.
The presumptive Democratic nominee’s favorability ratings in New York have decreased somewhat along with his lead in August. He is viewed favorably by 59%, down from 67% in June. Obama is now viewed unfavorably by 39% of voters, up from 30% a month ago. McCain’s numbers have changed little since the last poll. He is now viewed favorably by 49% and unfavorably by 49%.
The survey also found that when it comes to New York’s current financial problems, the majority of voters (60%) are confident that Governor David Paterson has the ability to solve them. Another 36% are not confident in the governor’s abilities. Paterson earns good or excellent ratings from 51% of voters in the state, while 13% say he is doing a poor job.
A plurality of voters (43%) believes a combination of tax increases and cuts in funding of state services and municipalities would help solve the New York’s financial woes.
When it comes to the War on Terror, 46% of New York voters say the United States and its allies are winning. That number is slightly lower than the national average. Most New Yorkers (66%) agree with Obama that Iraq is not the “central” front of the war, and 40% give that title to Afghanistan. Nearly half (47%) say Afghanistan is a greater threat than Iraq to the U.S.
Source: National Polls, Electoral College Results
