No one doubts Obama gets loads of media exposure. Many would argue that's a good thing. But it turns out moderation really is a virtue - even when it comes to press coverage. Pew Research released this new survey yesterday suggesting that Obama's media coverage is beginning to wear on people.
When asked, "How much have you been hearing about Barack Obama," close to half of Americans (48 percent) say "too much" (10 percent say "too little" and 41 percent "the right amount"). These numbers stand in contrast to public perceptions of John McCain's coverage. Only 26 percent say they hear "too much" about the presumptive Republican nominee (38 percent say "too little" and 35 percent "the right amount").
Predictably, self-identified GOP partisans are most weary of the Obama-drama. But Pew finds independents and even a significant number of Democrats may want the Illinois senator to take it down a few notches. The report notes this:
Not surprisingly, a very large number of Republicans say they have heard too much about Obama lately. But 51% of independents shared this opinion, and as many as a third of Democrats thought so too.
So if they really want to help Obama, even the fawning press corps should take a summer break.
