While it's still uncertain how the "More Perfect Union" speech will resonate with the larger electorate not only in the critical remaining primary states but also across America, and while his national poll ratings against McCain and Clinton are still taking a hopefully temporary mild beating, this latest Gallup Poll of general opinon of the three presidential candidates is worth sharing.
Interpreting the recent national survey that was carried out while the Wright furore was going on and the sermon clips flipping on cable networks and allover the web, Gallup analyst Jeffrey M. Jones had the following to say:
One final dimension underscores another potential vulnerability for Clinton -- 47% of Americans say she is someone they would be proud to have as president (51% say they would not be proud to have Clinton). Obama (57%) and McCain (55%) both score above the majority level on this measure, which highlights that both tend to fare better on basic likability measures than Clinton.
Obama also trumps both Clinton and McCain on:
Who cares about the needs of people like you - Obama-67% Cinton/McCain - 54%
Understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives - BO-67, HRC-58%
Would work well with both parties in Washington to get things done - BO-62%, HRC-49%
Who shares your values - BO-51%, HRC-45%
Best of all, when asked who is "honest and trustworthy?" McCain still comes out tops but Obama beats Clinton by a wide margin, 63% - 44%.
I've got to say that the survey, which was conducted before the Philadelphia speech (March 14-16) does hold a lot of serious surprises, at least for me.
For instance Clinton trumps both McCain and Obama on the question of who "has a vision for the country's future", her best perceived strength in the survey, although she beats Obama by only 1% point 68-67. That really surprises me.
And the fact that a slightly higher percentage believe that she would manage the government more effectively than Obama (51% - 48%) despite the debacle of her campaign and the still ongoing reshuffles (another one of her staff bit the dust today), and despite the fact that Obama has demonstrated extraordinary managerial efficiency with his campaign, now, that really does surprise me, too. Obviously a little more probably ought to be done on getting that perception corrected.
As with the persistent perception that Clinton is a stronger, more decisive leader or that she has a clearer plan for solving the country's problems. But there's a lot of good news in the survey especially given the period that it was conducted, a period when Obama clearly could not be said to be having his finest PR moment.
Certainly something there for the campaign to work with.