Via The Corner on National Review Online
Senator McCain’s majority favorable rating of 55% is significant, but it should be noted that the plurality, 32%, are only “somewhat favorable” to Senator McCain. This signifies soft support. Among independents, Senator McCain has a better than 2:1 favorable to unfavorable rating – 56% favorable / 26% unfavorable. Among moderates, Senator McCain’s ratings slip, as he is 49% favorable and 37% unfavorable. Those who are unfavorable to President Bush are also unfavorable to Senator McCain, 32% favorable to 54% unfavorable.
Again, Senator McCain must improve his standing with independents and moderates. Come November, these two voter segments will determine the outcome of the election. Interestingly, Senator McCain receives a 56% favorable rating among independents compared to Senator Obama who receives a 55% favorable rating among independents. The difference is that, Senator Obama has a 13-point advantage among these independent voters – 30% Senator McCain / 43% Senator Obama / 28% undecided. Again, Senator McCain needs a strong message to bring these voters back into the fold. Although Senator McCain has a good rating with Independents, he loses their vote as they still link their votes for President to President Bush’s unfavorable rating – not their opinion of Senator John McCain….
Ironically Senator John McCain is already better liked among both conservatives and Republicans than President Bush, while the President now has significant negatives among both his ideological and party bases. It’s time for Republicans to develop a new brand of conservatism that directly contrasts on the issues to Senator Obama and the Democratic Party.
I’ve always said that the Republicans tent has gotten way too big. Instead of the Republicans running in stark contrast to the Democrats, they are trying to run closer to the center. Trying to Imitate the Democrats is not going to win over your base. Plus, what needs to happen is, the G.O.P. as a collective whole needs to distance itself from the Neo-Conservatism of George W. Bush and his cronies, because right now, all the average person thinks of, when someone mentions Republicans is Bush. That is going to be an extremely hard hurdle to get over. It will take time, it will not happen overnight.
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