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Race and the Race
Americans appear prepared to elect either a black or a female president. But experience trumps both factorsand in a two-way race, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama by more than 20 points.
I wonder what they are saying here to each other.
Web exclusive
By Brian Braiker
July 6, 2007 - Could 2008 be the year that Americans put an end to an unbroken 218-year streak of electing white male presidents? Large majorities report a willingness to vote for either a woman or an African-American candidate for the office, according to the latest NEWSWEEK Poll. But those numbers drop significantly when respondents are asked whether the country is ready to accept a black or a woman in the White House.
Although 92 percent of the NEWSWEEK Polls respondents claim they would vote for a black candidate (up from 83 percent in 1991), only 59 percent believe the country is actually ready for an African-American president (an improvement over 37 percent in a 2000 CBS News poll). Similarly, 86 percent of voters say they would vote for a female commander in chief, but only 58 percent believe the country is ready for one (up from 40 percent in a 1996 CBS poll). Two thirds (66 percent) of voters said there was at least some chance theyd vote for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama (35 percent said there was a good chance, up from 20 percent last May). About as many (62 percent) said there was some chance theyd vote for Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton (43 percent said good chance, up from 33 percent). In a head-to-head race, though, Clinton dominates Obama 56 to 33 percent.
Experience appears to outweigh both race and gender in voters minds, however. More than two-thirds (70 percent) of the polls respondents feel Clinton, a former First Lady now in her second term as senator from New York, has enough experience in government to be a good president. For Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, the number drops to 40 percent (as many as 34 percent say he does not have enough experience). Both candidates are considered more qualified for office by nonwhites than by whites. Fifty-four percent of minorities say Obama is qualified; only 34 percent of whites agree. Eight in 10 (79 percent) minorities consider Clinton to be qualified enough, versus 67 percent of whites. More than half (55 percent) say former senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards has enough experience to be president, while 25 percent say he does not.
President George W. Bushs approval rating remains stuck at its lowest point. Just 26 percent of the polls respondents approve of his job performancelower than Jimmy Carters nadir in 1979 (at 28 percent in the Gallup poll). Of all the presidents since FDR, only Richard Nixon and Harry Truman have been less popular while still in office.
More than half (54 percent) of the polls respondents say they have a favorable opinion of Obama, up from 31 percent last May (19 percent have an unfavorable one, while 27 percent say theyve never heard of him, down from 60 percent). Clinton enjoys a favorability rating of 56 percent (38 percent have an unfavorable view of her, a slight improvement over her 53 to 42 percent favorable/unfavorable rating last May).
Although 81 percent of voters say they would cast their ballot for a Hispanic candidate if nominated by their party, only 39 percent of Americans feel the country is ready to elect onea finding that comes as bad news for Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who is seeking his partys nomination. (More bad news for Richardson: despite his years of experience, only 25 percent of Americans feel he is ready for the job; 57 percent dont know.) The idea of a Mormon candidatesuch as former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who is seeking the GOP nominationis even more polarizing. Just over a third of voters think the country is ready to elect a Mormon; 50 percent dont.
Respondents were split over the Supreme Courts 5-4 decision rejecting the use of race as a factor in voluntary integration efforts. About 32 percent approve of the decision, 36 percent disapprove and 32 percent said they dont know. But the idea of race more broadly being a factor in education or business is a solidly unpopular one. Eight in 10 (82 percent) of adults say race should not be allowed as a factor in making a decision about employment or education; only 14 percent think it should be a factor. This opposition stretches across racial lines: 86 percent of white adults and 75 percent of minority adults oppose the use of race as a factor in deciding on employment or education.
source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19623085/site/newsweek/
Americans appear prepared to elect either a black or a female president. But experience trumps both factorsand in a two-way race, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama by more than 20 points.
I wonder what they are saying here to each other.
Web exclusive
By Brian Braiker
July 6, 2007 - Could 2008 be the year that Americans put an end to an unbroken 218-year streak of electing white male presidents? Large majorities report a willingness to vote for either a woman or an African-American candidate for the office, according to the latest NEWSWEEK Poll. But those numbers drop significantly when respondents are asked whether the country is ready to accept a black or a woman in the White House.
Although 92 percent of the NEWSWEEK Polls respondents claim they would vote for a black candidate (up from 83 percent in 1991), only 59 percent believe the country is actually ready for an African-American president (an improvement over 37 percent in a 2000 CBS News poll). Similarly, 86 percent of voters say they would vote for a female commander in chief, but only 58 percent believe the country is ready for one (up from 40 percent in a 1996 CBS poll). Two thirds (66 percent) of voters said there was at least some chance theyd vote for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama (35 percent said there was a good chance, up from 20 percent last May). About as many (62 percent) said there was some chance theyd vote for Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton (43 percent said good chance, up from 33 percent). In a head-to-head race, though, Clinton dominates Obama 56 to 33 percent.
Experience appears to outweigh both race and gender in voters minds, however. More than two-thirds (70 percent) of the polls respondents feel Clinton, a former First Lady now in her second term as senator from New York, has enough experience in government to be a good president. For Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, the number drops to 40 percent (as many as 34 percent say he does not have enough experience). Both candidates are considered more qualified for office by nonwhites than by whites. Fifty-four percent of minorities say Obama is qualified; only 34 percent of whites agree. Eight in 10 (79 percent) minorities consider Clinton to be qualified enough, versus 67 percent of whites. More than half (55 percent) say former senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards has enough experience to be president, while 25 percent say he does not.
President George W. Bushs approval rating remains stuck at its lowest point. Just 26 percent of the polls respondents approve of his job performancelower than Jimmy Carters nadir in 1979 (at 28 percent in the Gallup poll). Of all the presidents since FDR, only Richard Nixon and Harry Truman have been less popular while still in office.
More than half (54 percent) of the polls respondents say they have a favorable opinion of Obama, up from 31 percent last May (19 percent have an unfavorable one, while 27 percent say theyve never heard of him, down from 60 percent). Clinton enjoys a favorability rating of 56 percent (38 percent have an unfavorable view of her, a slight improvement over her 53 to 42 percent favorable/unfavorable rating last May).
Although 81 percent of voters say they would cast their ballot for a Hispanic candidate if nominated by their party, only 39 percent of Americans feel the country is ready to elect onea finding that comes as bad news for Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who is seeking his partys nomination. (More bad news for Richardson: despite his years of experience, only 25 percent of Americans feel he is ready for the job; 57 percent dont know.) The idea of a Mormon candidatesuch as former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who is seeking the GOP nominationis even more polarizing. Just over a third of voters think the country is ready to elect a Mormon; 50 percent dont.
Respondents were split over the Supreme Courts 5-4 decision rejecting the use of race as a factor in voluntary integration efforts. About 32 percent approve of the decision, 36 percent disapprove and 32 percent said they dont know. But the idea of race more broadly being a factor in education or business is a solidly unpopular one. Eight in 10 (82 percent) of adults say race should not be allowed as a factor in making a decision about employment or education; only 14 percent think it should be a factor. This opposition stretches across racial lines: 86 percent of white adults and 75 percent of minority adults oppose the use of race as a factor in deciding on employment or education.
source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19623085/site/newsweek/
