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Rasmussen: Obama Almost as Polarizing as Clinton

3:28 PM, Feb 25, 2008 • By BRIAN FAUGHNAN
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Who would have thought this, based on the current political debate?

Thirty-four percent (34%) of all voters say they will definitely vote for John McCain if he is on the ballot this November. Thirty-three percent (33%) will definitely vote against him while 29% say their support hinges on who his opponent is.

Barack Obama has the same number who will definitely vote for him--34%. But, more people are committed to voting against him than McCain. Forty-three percent (43%) say they will definitely reject him at the ballot box. For 18%, their support depends on his opponent.

For Hillary Clinton, 32% will definitely vote for her if she is on the ballot and 46% will definitely vote against. Core opposition to Clinton, the best-known of the candidates as the long campaign season began, hovered in the high 40s through most of the past year.

In other words, to the extent that poll respondents can be believed (and there's definitely a limit to that), a total of 52 percent of the electorate is either committed to Obama or can be swayed to back him. For McCain, that number is a whopping 63 percent! In other words, Barack Obama -- the fresh and exciting embodiment of a new and bipartisan approach to politics -- is almost as polarizing as Hillary Clinton. It's John McCain who has a strong base of support and a great opportunity to bring a broad swath of undecided Americans to back him.

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