Kansas, 11 Weeks Out -- McCain 23 Points Atop Obama: In an election for President of the United States in Kansas today, 08/21/08, Republican John McCain defeats Democrat Barack Obama 58% to 35%, according to this SurveyUSA pre-election poll conducted exclusively for KWCH-TV Wichita and KCTV-TV Kansas City. McCain leads among young and old, male and female, rich and poor, college educated and less educated, frequent worshippers and not-so-frequent. 22% of Democrats cross-over to vote Republican, compared to 13% of Republicans who cross-over to vote Democratic. Independents break 6:5 for McCain. Pro-Choice voters split. Pro-Life voters back McCain 4:1. Both presidential candidates have attracted more support from their respective parties. McCain is now backed by 83% of Kansas Republicans, Obama by 76% of the state�s Democrats. Unaffiliated voters are evenly divided � 38% for McCain, 37% for Obama � with 14% preferring an unspecified third-party candidate and 11% undecided. For the second month in a row, McCain is viewed favorably by 66% of Kansas voters. Obama ranks favorably with 48%, up four percent from July and nearly identical with where he was in June. Fifty-two percent (52%) have an unfavorable view of Obama, compared to 33% who feel that way about his GOP rival.
One wild card this year is the state�s popular Democratic governor, Kathleen Sebelius, who is among those being touted as a possible running mate for Obama.
But like most Americans, 68% think finding new sources of energy is more important than reducing the amount of energy the United States now consumes. Just over half (51%) believe that high gas prices are more likely to reduce energy consumption than government regulation, while 28% believe regulation will have more impact.
Fifty-five percent (55%) say the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror, versus 18% who say the terrorists are winning. Again, these numbers reflect a growing belief nationwide that the War on Terror is going America�s way.
However, red state or not, 44% of Kansas voters agree with Obama that Afghanistan is the central front in the war on terror, while only 26% believe that of Iraq. Forty-four percent (44%) also say Afghanistan is a greater threat to the national security of the United States than Iraq, but 30% believe Iraq is the bigger threat. Barack Obama may trace his roots to Kansas, but new polling data shows he�s not likely to win the state�s six Electoral College votes this fall.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain leads Obama 52% to 32% in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Kansas voters. When �leaners� are included, it�s McCain 58% and Obama 35%.
Those results are similar to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted in May. In between, a June survey showed Obama pulling within 10 points in Kansas. However, that poll was conducted shortly after he had clinched the Democratic presidential nomination.
Several surveys conducted during that period reflected a bounce for the presumptive Democratic nominee as he basked in the glow of his historic accomplishment. Obama still holds a modest lead nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
In the new survey, McCain is viewed favorably by 66% of Kansas voters while Obama earns positive reviews from 44%. McCain�s numbers are up four points from a month ago while Obama�s are down five.
McCain wins 79% of the Republican vote; Obama is supported by 65% of Democrats. McCain now leads by 17% among unaffiliated voters. The two candidates were essentially even among unaffiliateds last month. Note: TargetPoint Consulting, Inc. is a full service public opinion market research firm founded in 2003 by Michael Meyers, Brent Seaborn and Alex Gage, whose public opinion research experience began with President Gerald R. Ford�s campaign in 1975. TargetPoint is best known for its pioneering work in the field of Micro Targeting and has provided MicroTargeting, public opinion studies, and other research services to a variety of clients including President Bush, the Republican National Committee, the Republican Governors Associations, dozens of senate, congressional and gubernatorial campaigns across the country and to a number of corporate and association clients. Alicia Davis joined TargetPoint in 2007 from the Republican National Committee. Davis has served on three presidential campaigns, the Republican National Convention, in the White House and for Governors Weld and Cellucci. In 2008, Politico named Davis one of the top ten politicos to watch. . . . . . .
