McCain trusted more than Obama on Iraq, national security, taxes

Rasmussen Reports:

When it comes to the economy, 47% of voters trust John McCain more than Barack Obama. Obama is trusted more by 41%. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey also found that, when it comes to the War in Iraq, McCain is trusted more by 49% of voters. Obama is preferred by 37%. McCain has an even larger edge--€”53% to 31%--on the broader topic of National Security. These results are little changed from a month ago.

Obama enjoys a 43% to 39% advantage when it comes to government ethics and reducing corruption. McCain has a 44% to 38% advantage on taxes.

It is interesting to note that while McCain has the edge over Obama on these issues, Democrats are trusted more than Republicans on a generic basis. This ability of McCain to outperform the party label helps explain why he is competitive with the Democrats in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking poll.

When it comes to the economy, men trust McCain more by a 55% to 33% margin. Among women, Obama has a seven-point edge. Obama has the advantage among voters under 30 while McCain is preferred by their elders. Investors prefer McCain while non-Investors are evenly divided. Union Members prefer Obama 46% to 40%. Government Workers are evenly divided while Entrepreneurs and Private Sector Employees are more likely to trust McCain.

McCain is trusted more by 25% of Democrats. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats trust the likely nominee of their Party.

Recent surveys have found that most voters believe the economic stimulus package has had little impact, most believe that tax hikes are bad for the economy, and 65% oppose an increase in the capital gains tax. The Rasmussen Consumer Index has found consumer and investor confidence at record low levels.

As for the War in Iraq, McCain is trusted more by 85% of Republicans, 22% of Democrats, and 49% of those not affiliated with either major party.

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The Democrats' generic advantage is not based on reality. I think what has happened is that they were very successful in the last two years with a negative campaign against a passive Republican Party that did not fight back very effectively. The McCain numbers reflect more of a reality and the GOP needs to get there. One of the ways it can improve is a negative campaign that points out how bad the Democrats are on national security, taxes and energy. There is no reason for a majority of the country to support Democrat candidates on those issues when all of the facts are understood.

Democrats have there own culture of corruption and culture of spending, Where is the Republican campaign pointing that out?

I think as people began to understand Obama's profound ignorance on warfare in general and the Iraq war in particular, McCain's advantage on that subject will grow. Obama's siding witht he trial lawyers on intercepts of enemy communications will also not play well with national security voters who are not that interested in terrorist privacy rights.