Hillary backers curb their enthusiasm for Obama

USA Today:

Fewer than half of Hillary Rodham Clinton's supporters in the presidential primaries say they definitely will vote for Barack Obama in November, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, evidence of a formidable challenge facing Democrats as their national convention opens here today.

In the survey, taken Thursday through Saturday, 47% of Clinton supporters say they are solidly behind Obama, and 23% say they support him but may change their minds before the election.

Thirty percent say they will vote for Republican John McCain, someone else or no one at all.

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• Obama has not eased concerns about his depth of experience: 57% worry he lacks the experience to be an effective president, and 44% question whether he could handle the responsibilities of commander in chief. He is preferred by double digits over McCain on handling the economy, but a GOP drumbeat on taxes seems to be working: A majority of those surveyed predict Obama will raise their federal income taxes if elected.

• McCain is credited as a strong and decisive leader, but he has lost ground since earlier this year on handling the economy, the electorate's top issue. A majority say his policies as president would mostly benefit the wealthy. Four in 10 worry McCain is too old to be president — he'll turn 72 on Friday — and 66% say they're concerned he'll pursue President Bush's course. That includes 64% of independents and 35% of Republicans.

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The poll gives Obama a narrow lead that is withing the margin of error. With Obama doing so poorly among former Hillary supporters, McCain should be doing better than the poll suggest. I do not see an obvious explanation for this disconnect.

It is probably attributable to the negative campaign the Democrats have run for the past eight years against the Republican brand. That is a challenge than needs to be overcome by Republicans in all races.

There is much to dislike about the Democrat party and we need to do a better job of getting that message out.