Poll: Obama, McCain both risky options
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/07/30/campaign.poll/art.split.gi.jpg caption="A new poll takes a look at which candidate is riskier."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - More than half of registered voters say electing Barack Obama is slightly riskier than choosing John McCain, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. Poll released Wednesday.
In the poll, conducted July 27-29, 57 percent say Obama would be a risky choice, while 54 percent say the same of McCain.
When asked whether Obama would be a “very risky” choice, 31 percent agreed - while only 21 percent said the same of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
But when asked which candidate is “somewhat risky,” 33 percent chose McCain; 26 percent said Obama would be.
The poll is based on interviews with 914 registered voters, conducted by telephone on July 27-29. The margin of error for both questions is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Though slightly more registered voters find Obama a riskier choice, the race continues to remain tight.
A CNN “Poll of Polls” released Tuesday shows just five points separate the two candidates - Obama's 48 percent to McCain's 43 percent, with 9 percent undecided.
While “risk” is not defined by a single issue, one issue in particular may help Obama ease fears over the course of the campaign season.
In a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Wednesday morning, 48 percent of those surveyed said McCain and Obama’s economic policy would be the most important issue when deciding who to vote for this fall.
But when it comes to deciding who is the better choice to fix the economy, Obama is their pick by a 54-43 percent margin.
That poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The CNN "Poll of Polls" consists of four surveys: CNN/Opinion Research Corporation (July 27-29), AP-IPSOS (July 31-August 4), USA Today/Gallup (July 25-27), and Gallup tracking (August 2-4). The Poll of Polls does not have a sampling error.
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Some people think Obama is risky because he doesn't have much experience. I think McCain is the riskier choice because he has 26 years in the Senate and has got nothing right yet, what makes you think he would get the Presidency right. His record has already been proven as a total failure.
Polls! Polls!! Polls!!!
It's August 6th for crying out loud!!
These numbers DON'T MATTER. Show me these polls after the conventions, after the VP selections and–better yet–AFTER THE DEBATES!! Only then will these numbers truly reflect our opinions.
Anyone who thinks ANY poll (from ANY TIME) is an indicator of the final outcome needs to keep voting Republican. This will either be a blowout/landslide or a nail-bitingly close contest; my money is on the latter.
Either way, it will be the Democrats with cause to celebrate come January.
Sick of Obama
Energy crisis- so Obama decided to run on a bunch of hot air.
The bandwagon really took off on his hyperbole... now it is pooping out.
All the hot air in the world could not force the thinking people to follow the sheep.
McCain is more risky, before the end of his 1st term. We the tax payers will be paying for a horse and buggy to pull him down Penn. Ave to the Capital.
I just finished watching about one hour's worth of C-SPAN videos on John McCain during sessions of committee meetings and on the floor of the senate. John McCain is the risky one. I don't care about dumb polls on dumb media press from dumb people.
I challenge everyone to go the the C-SPAN library and watch for yourself and watch the true McCain, he does not belong in the White House.
I trust the new guy! Obama.
Where is Hillary?
She was JUST right.
Is it too late to save our great Nation?
Both candidates are risky. But our country doesn't need another Bush administration. Of course, all of this wouldn't be happening if Hillary Clinton was our nominee. Still wishing and hoping. Can't wait to see what happens at the convention in Denver. Always will be a Hillary Clinton supporter.