For John McCain, experience simply may not count much

Here's part of the problem for John McCain, as detailed in a new L.A. Times/Bloomberg poll that shows Barack Obama with a slight edge in the presidential race.

On the one hand, McCain enjoyed a whopping advantage over Obama when registered voters were asked about the candidates' experience levels.

Few had doubts about McCain's resume -- fully 80% said he had the right experience to be president, with just 16% saying he did not. The verdict on Obama was much more mixed -- 47% answered yes on the experience question for him, 45% answered no.

Yet when the voters were asked the most important qualification for presidential candidates, experience -- at 18% -- ranked behind their positions on the issues (27%) and character (23%).

Speaking of issues, the survey highlights how the focus has changed in a campaign that began -- almost two years ago -- at a time when unrest in Iraq dominated the headlines.

When the voters were asked to pick the most important matter to them in choosing a candidate, 56% said domestic issues (such as the economy and health care), 17% said national security/terrorism, and 7% said social issues (such as abortion and gay rights). "All equally" was selected by 17%.

The poll also found McCain making significant progress in closing the "passion gap" that once loomed as a yawning chasm between him and Obama.

The Democrat's supporters remain fired up, with 84% enthusiastic about his candidacy (55% described themselves as "very enthusiastic").

But with McCain clearly energizing many Republicans with his choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate, 70% of his supporters now characterize themselves as enthusiastic about his candidacy (with 37% in the "very enthusiastic" ranks).

-- Don Frederick   

Comments

[Fred]

Obama will have the same economic team that Clinton had and McCain will have lobbyist from wall street. One team has already turned this country around economically after the first Bush recession and the other is asking for goverment handouts. Tough decision.

[Theresa farrell]

Sure, McCain has more experience but...

McCain is experienced and reckless where...

Obama is intelligent and prudent.

Which is better for the Presidency of the greatest nation in the world?

VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN

[nochickenhawk]

Your corporate media poll is biased in favor of McCain. But how can we expect you to be statistically objective when you are owned by Sam Zell and he is a McCain backer. Zell has a long history of letting heads roll on properties that he buys at bargain prices. So, all of you involved with this LA Times poll are understandably protecting your coward corporate asses waiting to see what Zell's next move is relative to the Times.

[Davide]

The problem is that the "experience" of McCain helped creating two (!) TRILLIONS dollars flaps: IRAQ and the WALLS STREET COLLAPSE.

Yes, McCain is experienced, but we don't want that experience for one more additional day.

[Korean Vet]

This housing mess was initiated by Carter and and Clinton got his housing for all program. Remember Janet Reno and no red lining? That was intended to make home loans to all without regard to their ability to repay.

[SonOfHistoryProfessor]

This is funny!

In a crisis, McCain changes plans impulsively and haphazardly.

Obama stops, studies the issue, then moves forward clearly.

*If you are in a fighter plane*, the quick, (perhaps haphazard) style may keep you alive.

*If you are an executive manager*, thinking the problem all the way through with a thorough, professional response will carry the day.

I just have to laugh out loud about this!!

Which style do you want for chief executive?

McCain partisans will always support him. Heck - 30% still support Bush! Nothing Obama could ever do or say would do more damage to McCain's image of being presidential than this sudden urgency.

Dude....if it was like, so important....why didn't you go yesterday? Or the day before?

I am laughing my butt off!

Yeah...you may hate Obama's policies. But do you really want hot-head making the decisions? If you're a republican, start thinking 2012.

[Jon K.]

I agree with Theresa.

Obama is intelligent and prudent.

McCain is headstrong and reckless.

Here's the thing... Obama is barely up in the polls by only a few points for a few key reasons.

1. There are a lot of racist people in this country, especially amoung older people... whom McCain connects with well beause of his age.

2. Obama is often too nuanced in his responses, which raises distrust in people who are less educated (and who like more gut-based responses) and who may be wrestling with issues of repressed racism.

3. America is still psychologically confused because of 9/11 and the constant cultivation of societal paranoia which the Bush Administration has fomented for years. As a result, among the paranoid Obama's message of hope is met with distrust and derision.

Basically, the Bush Administration has not only screwed up our economy and our standing in the world, but has screwed up our society's ability to reasonably assess the parameters of a decision and then choose a metered, intelligent, non-reactionary solution.

It's horrible.

Hopefully we'll pull through. In any case, this country is going to get what it deserves. I hope we make the right choice because, this time, it is exceptionally important to make the right choice.