Obama still leads among registered voters, 46% to 43% (margin of error is 2%). However, McCain is supported by more Republican party members -- 87% -- than Obama is supported by Democrats -- 83%. McCain picked up 5 points since June, but Obama's support has remained flat. Additional evidence that the GOP is uniting around its presumed nominee: 88% of the formal GOP candidates support McCain but only 72% of the Clinton crowd supports Obama.
Age and experience are helping McCain. By a two-to-one margin (54% to 27%), voters say the phrase "personally qualified to be president" applies better to McCain than to Obama. McCain's "good judgment in a crisis" numbers moved from 47% in June to 51% in August; Obama's numbers moved down from 38% to 36% (within margin of error). And McCain leads in "willing to take stand" -- 49% to 38%.
When asked "what do you like" about the candidates, fully 53% of those support McCain liked nothing about Obama. Conversely, on 34% of those who support Obama liked nothing about McCain.
As in the primaries, Obama is pulling in about 9-in-10 black votes. McCain leads 51% to 39% among whites; 49%-to-41% among men; and 47%-to-42% among voters older than 60. Obama leads 51% to 38% among women and has a 24 point lead among voters younger than 30. However, Obama has only a slim majority (51%) of whites younger than 30.
Independent are a key audience: almost half remain undecided.
It's two weeks until the Democratic convention. Obama's candidacy did not get a "bounce" from Clinton's withdrawal. How much bounce will it get post-convention?
Related:: Deconstructing A Political Poll: How To Determine If A Political Poll Is Valid Or Newsworthy and Historical Presidential Approval Ratings - End Of Term
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