NBC/WSJ poll: Is Obama safe choice?

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:51 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, Obama

"As reassuring as the poll is for Sen. Obama, Mr. Hart and Mr. McInturff agreed that it did indicate that a substantial number of voters question whether the first-term senator would be a safe choice, or whether more needs to be known about him. Mr. McInturff said some voters are wondering, 'Do we know enough about this guy?' the Wall Street Journal writes.

"While the senator's support among Democrats is little changed, he did slip among conservatives and Republican voters, groups that had shown some attraction to Sen. Obama's message of changing partisan politics in Washington. 'I think the survey does indicate that this has taken a little of the patina off Sen. Obama,' Mr. McInturff said."

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While Hillary likes to try and blame OBAMA for Florida not getting anything rolling, as it turns out, Obama's camp has been trying to see how they can work it out, while Clinton refuses to negotiate.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/03/obama-reaches-o.html
Obama camp talks to Thurman
The Hillary Clinton campaign has yet to express any interest in negotiating a solution to Florida's delegate mess, but a couple key Barack Obama staffers - delegate operations director Jeff Berman and political director Matt Nugen called state Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman to talk about possible ways to give Florida a voice in the nomination.

"We're just looking for solutions," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:04 AM)

I'm sure Pastor Wright and his church is only anti-Sure he's safe. Half of the people don't even know about Pastor Wright and I'm sure our friends in the media will stop anymore coverage of the most recent misunderstandings about his churches feelings about those pesty Jews. After all his church has only been anti-Semitic on rare occasions and Italians do eat a lot of garlic so I don’t see what the problem is. Surely after 20 years our rock star Mr. Obama hasn’t picked up any of this Black Theological Liberation stuff and it’s only the fault of those rightwing talk show people trying to be racial. Stop it!

Obama 08 (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:09 AM)

That's a stupid statement. Do we know enough about Obama? What the hell did we KNOW about BILL CLINTON before we elected him? Did we KNOW he was going to embarrass the OFFICE of the president by having oral sex in the oval office? (Had a pretty good clue, though, didn't we, seeing that he's had numerous affairs during his lifetime) What did YOU (because I never voted for the a$$)know about Bush? I KNEW he wasn't the sharpest pencil in the box....why didn't YOU? Man can't even put a decent sentence together.
It's a cop out to say you don't know enough about Obama. Do some research; don't rely on the media for your knowledge.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:11 AM)

I'm sure Pastor Wright and his church is only anti-Semitic on rare occasions and Italians do eat a lot of garlic so I don’t see what the problem is. Surely after 20 years our rock star Mr. Obama hasn’t picked up any of this Black Theological Liberation stuff and it’s only the fault of those rightwing talk show people trying to be racial. Stop it!

Obama '08 (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:11 AM)

HILLARY & BILL STILL ARE PLANNING TO "STEAL THE NOMINATION' FROM OBAMA --- BEWARE --- IT WILL DESTROY THE PARTY --- HILLARY SHOULD DROP OUT OF THE RACE....

HILLARY PLANNING TO "STEAL NOMINATION' (AZ) (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:16 AM)

Obama cannot win with his Radical, Anti-American pastor - Obama's judgment & backgound are far too questionable to be elected President of the UNITED States. IF Obama were so great - he would of knocked her out by now - the media keeps counting her out - and the VOTERS Bring Her Back!!! Let the race go on - all the People, ALL The states - count FL & MI.
CNN - Stop giving the "crown" to Obama - he has NOT won!

Molly (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:17 AM)

Senator Obama can not win the election. He is a "flawed" candidate.

Leslie Lewis, Dayton, Ohio (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:18 AM)

I think that's fair. But I think Obama still does have plenty of time to talk to people and to have people get to know him.

I'm confident that he will continue to gain rising levels of support from people who get to know him more. That has been his pattern to-date and there is no evidence to suggest it won't continue.

Obama 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:19 AM)

There are too many unknowns about Obama. Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, Rezko, Ayers etc. have not been thorougly looked at yet. What is Obama going to do, just say present and that is enough?? I don't think so. Obama as president is very scary.

Very concerned in Tennessee (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:22 AM)

The fear tactics just aren't working for Hillary.
Not This Time!
Obama '08

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:22 AM)

Very concerned in Tennessee (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:24 AM)

Be fair people, If Clinton had attended this church for even a year, would she still be in the race? To those who say it was taken out of context. In what context is preaching hate acceptable? One child, one person hearing this hate and accepting it as truth sets us back 100 years. Let's not talk about what has been done, it gets us nowhere. Let's talk about what we can and should do. Lift people up, don't bring them down.

Bird MN (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:30 AM)

No, we don't know enough about Senator Obama. Mainly because the media does not ask him the questions they should and even when they do question him, he evades giving a direct answer. He seems to be very good at evasive measures. Questions about his mentor/minister of 20 years; give a speech on race. And now today, someone in the media has finally gone to the website of his church and taken a look at the "pastor page" and discovered the proudly published bulletins of this minister. Turns out it isn't just a "few sound bytes", but a continuing theme of anti-anything except black. Now I suppose I will be called a racist!

Michiel W So. Beloit, IL (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:31 AM)

I'm an Obama supporter, but I, too, am scratching my head about how he could have sat in Wright's church of hate for 20+ years. Wright needs his own country as he seems to hate almost every race and every country--even his own.

Maybe it would help if UCC's governing body did some press (not Wright, dear God, not Wright). We need to hear from some lucid church members about why anyone would be a member of this church. Obama saying good things about it isn't enough. I'm willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt, but Wright is definitely a millstone about Obama's neck.

Cindy Lou, Alabama (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:34 AM)

As far as I am concerned in refusing to pay tribute to the national anthem, saying he will not wear a lapel flag and the wife saying it's the first time she is proud of her country--to me this indicates a lousy candidate for president to the united states. I am a World war two navy veteran and am proud of my country.

Daniel Hoover Amarillo,Tx (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:35 AM)

the wallstreet journal is backing the hillary because she has assured them it would be 'buisness as usual' if shes elected, their comments are meaningless, doesn't anyone remember the cover story 'big business loves hillary', give me a break

MK,MO (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:41 AM)

"That's a stupid statement. Do we know enough about Obama? What the hell did we KNOW about BILL CLINTON before we elected him? Did we KNOW he was going to embarrass the OFFICE of the president"

Well, Diane from IL, I guess "once bitten, twice shy" might apply. If you're concerned you didn't know enough about Clinton, it seems to me you'd want to know more about Obama. We KNOW this is an issue now and by many accounts there's more to come on these racial issues and Obama's associations. Let's find it out NOW. It's no wonder his campaign kept him from interviews and speaking with the press early on; we might have found out sooner and wouldn't be dealing with this. Had we known sooner, I dare say he wouldn't be where he is in this race today. I LIKE GARLIC; I LOVE PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS; I'M A TYPICAL WHITE PERSON; I CAN'T VOTE FOR OBAMA.

think (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:43 AM)

I definitely agree with Diane from Illinois: "What a stupid statement, 'Do we know enough about Obama?' " First, the source of that question is the editorial page of the Rupert Murdoch[Fox] owned Wall Street Journal . That page of the Journal has entirely lost its credibility. Second, it tortures logic to fearfully ask "Ooohh, I wonder what it is that we don't know?" Why isn't that question asked of Mccain[anger problems, infidelity, campaign swimming in lobbyists, intolerance of any form of dissent, war hawk]. Look at Sen.Obama's public life and service as well as his academic accomplishments. We should all be proud that this man has risked so much to run.

Richard Green (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:45 AM)

TO THOSE WHO STILL HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT OBAMA; Have a look at the latest Newsweek. Also Rolling Stone. Confidence in Obama is clearly on the rise. In case you haven't read the article in the December issue of Atlantic Monthly, that, too, is worth reading; it's available on line. The title is Goodbye To All That: Why Obama Matters

John Mehan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:48 AM)

FIRST READ: It seems in an effort at balanced reporting on the poll, FIRST READ has missed the main point: in the past two weeks Obama has held remarkably steady and Clinton has sunk. and, Clinton has fully lost her national lead for the first time. big news guys. also, why no reporting on the pick up of a new Superdelegate by Obama?

Geoff in Brooklyn (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:49 AM)

Well we know a whole lot more about Obama than we do about Hillary. She discloses nothing and denies everything.

-Obama has written books about his life, his church, his family and his vision.
-He has laid out all his earmarks for all to see.
-His donor list is available for all to see.
-His taxes are available for all to see.
-His entire plan as President is laid out for all to see.

Seriously, what more do people need to know?

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:49 AM)

I am an Obama supporter, but with the new information coming out about the information on the church website, coupled with the well known remarks by Rev Wright, and given the fact that Wright is no longer preaching at the church, I am thinking that if Obama is serious about bringing this country together and mending race relations, he should seriously consider finding a new church to worship in. Staying there is only harming his chances of doing some real good for this country as President.

David, Paducah, KY (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:51 AM)

I'm voting for Obama and think he'd bridge the races together. If he doesn't win the nomination, then I'll vote for McCain.

Hillary is in it for herself and would do ZERO for this country.

John Jenkins (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:53 AM)

I think that the uncertainty of that number reflects the idea I hear floated around by many of my Dem friends that they like Obama but are worried that he's too unknown of a quantity to beat McCain. But the numbers don't seem to show that. Right now Obama still beats McCain. Of course things can change, but I think it's hard to see Obama losing with the country wanting change and the amount of enthusiasm surrounding his campaign.

Holli, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:54 AM)

Have the last 8 years really been something to be proud of? Or, how about the previous 8. One president lies to a Federal Grand Jury and gets away with it scott-free, the other is a war-monger trying to pick up where daddy left off. What's to be proud of? The extreme lack of confidence that the WORLD has in our nation is an indication of just how proud we should be right now. I agree with Michele Obama, and I'm glad that Barack is going to have someone that honest standing behind him.
As far as Rev. Wright...who cares??? It's one man and his opinions. Besides, unless you attended every sermon, how can anyone say that he preached hate for 20 years. That just happened to be a few isolated incidents that the media picked up on. Let it go.
Listen to Obamas message. Does it sound like a man who wants anything but peace and prosperity for his nation. How can any of it be bad. I say we give him a chance.
Oh, by the way, this is from someone who's been an active member of the military for the last two presidents and have been subjected to their rotten leadership. I love my country. But, I'm certainly not proud of it.

Joe, Serving Overseas (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:55 AM)

Wow how can someone say not enough is known about Obama the man has written two books. The first one was written just after he graduated from Harvard and before he got into politics. But maybe some people are waiting for the press to read them the book cause it is to much trouble to read it themselfs. To much trouble to look on his website for his stands on issues, to much trouble to do a web search for articals about him before he ran for president. Come on people you say you are concerned then do some checking. Not just complaining cause someone will not do it for you and give you their take on it.

Vincent KC (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:56 AM)

Daniel,

How many time have to put you hand over you heart when the National Anthem was played?

ISSUES???? (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:58 AM)

What kind of headline is that? You make him sound like a violent criminal. Is the Clinton campaign writing FR today?

Idaho (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:59 AM)

Yes, I do feel that Obama is a safe choice. Hillary is the one who scares me. She just have a big problem with telling the truth. I once had much respect for her and Bill, but no more. She has fought a dirty fight and I do not feel that she is the better candidate anymore. With all the unfair, dirty tatics that she has thrown at Senator Obama and also saying that she misspoke about her trip to Bosnia, come on let's get real here. If I were in danger and had someone shooting at me I would certainly remember it! And she would have too! Talking about can't be trusted. I also feel that the people need to hear the entire message of Wright and not rely solely on the media telling them about it. Do some research on your own. It might make a difference for the better. I also feel that the speech that Senator Obama gave was what we all needed in every race of people. It would be nice if there were only one race(human), but unfortunately people just seem to insist on labeling us in some catagory or another. The important issues at hand here are not about what race the candidates are, it's about people, economics and the condition that our economy is in, getting our families back home safe and sound. Too many lives have already been taken away, no more please! Let's do the right thing and not make this race about Race, but make it about RIGHT!!

Shelby, Ackerman, MS (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:59 AM)

Very ponderous indeed. With all we know of his Democratic comepition, that's a wash. It boggles the mind. They have had years to aquaint themselves with Senator Obama's character, and reputation. He has come as far as he has because he deserves it. Every time he has encountered an obstacle in this race, whether from limited finances or political attacks, he has triumphed. What is this? Get onboard folks. Show some guts. Have faith.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:05 AM)

People complain about "TO MANY UNKNOWNS ABOUT OBAMA" Hello people, the Clinton's have a life time of this. So, for people to base their sole problem on this arguement is a huge flaw.

Paul, Riverside, CA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:05 AM)

Speaking for myself, an Obama supporter, I look forward to learning more about the Senator. I become a stronger supporter the more I learn.

I beleive that as America becomes more familiar with him, his election will be secured.

Bill Johnson, Anaconda, Montana (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:09 AM)

Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila, superdelegate and Barack Obama supporter, was charged Thursday with 19 counts in a campaign finance probe, including conspiracy to violate U.S. federal campaign laws and giving false testimony to the FBI.

More change we can believe in!

Matthew, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:13 AM)

There are 2 additional tapes showing Hillary Clinton making similar claims about Bosnia to the one she made last week when she "misspoke."

WHY isn't the media playing these instead of more of this Wright garbage? Isn't the truthfulness of a Presidential candidate one of the most important issues?

Just Wondering (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:16 AM)

Obama is not electable, sad fact but true. The media should check out Obama head to toe , just like they do Hillary. Could not wait to get her records as first lady, just to shout her down, as not being electable. Well Obama's Illinois legislative tenure was a blank for 6 out of 7 yrs. Until the democratic party started to make presidential material, gave him high profile legislation to pass. That's what got him in the Senate. Obama has a history of taking other politician work and claiming it for himself. 20% of Illinois knew who he was before, 2002., then Emril Jones became Senate majority leader all things changed for Obama. As latest as March 13,2008 , he tried to have Chris Dobb place his name on top as have authorship of Dodd's and Frank's legislation 'Hope for Homeowners act.' http://www.washingtonpost.com Obama has lied about this authorship of the legislation, has lied about Rev.Wright and his financial donor Rezko. The truth will prevail.

jp,michigan (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:18 AM)

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