February 27, 2007
Do Voters Know How Old (Or Young) Obama Is?
In addition to what was highlighted in today's "Spotlight", the new Diageo/Hotline poll shows Pres. Bush's job approval rating at 36% among all RVs and 76% among GOPers. Moreover, Bush's handling of the war in Iraq has a 30% approval rating -- 1% higher than what he received 1/14.
Meanwhile, cong. job approval hasn't seen a significant change since the Dem takeover. 30% of voters approve in comparison to the 27% that did 11/15.
Iraq continues to dominate the dialogue, with 38% considering the war as the most important issue facing the country today. Of that %, 6% support the war and 32% oppose it.
As for a generic general WH '08 ballot, 46% of voters would select a Dem candidate. 28% would choose a GOPer. In an open-ended question asking who you'd most like to see elected pres. in '08, Hillary Clinton received 18%. Barack Obama followed with 12%. Rudy Giuliani and John McCain had 8% and 6%, respectively.
When asked to select which category best describes a candidate's age, a majority of voters chose correctly for HRC, John Edwards and Giuliani. However, 41% believe McCain is 55-64. The senator is currently 71 years of age. Obama, 45, was also mistaken by 43% for being in the 35-44 range.
Only about 20% of all voters are aware of the top tier '08ers' religion. 22% correctly labeled Giuliani as Catholic and 20% correctly labeled Romney as Mormon. However, 6% incorrectly think Obama is Muslim [KATHERINE LEHR].
Posted at 03:00 PM
Comments
Don't you have to be 45 to run for president? I don't know what's scarier...the fact that people don't know Obama's age by guessing or the fact that people don't know the age limits for running for office.
james | 02.27.07 05:23 PM
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Actually, james, you have to be 35... I hope you won't be too scared of yourself!
Neil the Ethical Werewolf | 02.28.07 04:12 PM
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No, you only have to be 35 to be president. Obama is ten years overdue!
Matt Hogan | 02.28.07 04:16 PM
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No, you have to be 35 to serve as President. And that's an important distinction; you can RUN for president at any age, you just cannot actually serve unless you are 35, a natural born citizen and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.
Tim | 02.28.07 04:37 PM
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Its 35. Wow your scary.
kevin | 02.28.07 04:43 PM
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You have to be 35 to run for president. The fact that people don't know the age limits is scarier.
Brent | 02.28.07 04:53 PM
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Well James, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. The constitutional age requirement for president is 35, not 45. Teddy Roosevelt and Jack Kennedy were both under the age of 45 when they took the oath of office.
beowulf | 02.28.07 06:23 PM
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No, you only have to be 35 to become president.
Marc | 02.28.07 06:57 PM
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@James: 35, it's in the Constitution.
Burton | 02.28.07 08:11 PM
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you have to be 35, bud.
"I don't know what's scarier...the fact that people don't know Obama's age by guessing or the fact that people don't know the age limits for running for office."
Looks like you're scaring yourself, then.
mynameisalsojames | 02.28.07 09:13 PM
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Case in point... You have to be 35 by Inauguration Day.
Ben | 03.01.07 03:08 AM
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BEOWULF - JACK Kennedy? Really? I didn't know he was president. Teddy was the youngest at 42 years 322 days, Kennedy was second at 43 years 236 days, and Clinton was the third youngest at 46 years 154 days. Obama would be the third yougest pesidnet. In my opinion, he is the best quaified for the job, and the most charismatic speaker since Bill Clinton. I'm from Arkansas and do like Huckabee, but Obama represents what the country and it's people need most at this current time in American History.
imdonewithit | 12.13.07 12:11 AM
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I don't understand why all of you keep correcting james for what he said, when you all don't understand sarcasm which was what he did. He was mocking what other people were saying.
samuel | 01.03.08 11:16 PM
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At 46, Obama is old enough. Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt and John F Kennedy were all in their mid-40's when elected president. Most of our military leaders at the LTC and COL level are in that age-range. A rather shallow barometer to make a decision I believe - try critical thinking and independent thought to make a decision. Oh but that would take longer than a sound bite....
Yvette | 02.01.08 08:58 AM
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At 46, Obama is old enough. Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt and John F Kennedy were all in their mid-40's when elected president. Most of our military leaders at the LTC and COL level are in that age-range. A rather shallow barometer to make a decision I believe - try critical thinking and independent thought to make a decision. Oh but that would take longer than a sound bite....
Yvette | 02.01.08 08:58 AM
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BEOWULfF and IMDONEWITHIT- John F Kennedy was sometimes called by his nickname Jack, so everyone just calm down. Senator Lloyd Bentsen said to Dan Quayle during the 1988 presidential debate "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy"
Elisabeth | 02.01.08 01:28 PM
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35 to be president and born in the USA; Goldwater in '64 was old enough but wasn't technically born in USA but Arizona B4 it was a state!!
rob | 02.23.08 08:09 PM
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somewhere between 40 and 60
sluggo | 05.01.08 04:15 PM
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between 40 and 60
sluggo | 05.01.08 04:17 PM
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I cannot believe this country is going to let a man who was only a senator for two weeks before running for president to become the next president of the United States. He speaks well but he doesn't have the experience to do anything...and he's black! I feel he will be shot if he becomes the president...Too many racist people in the USA like the KKK in today's world. And his middle name actually scares me a little. I'm not trying to make anyone upset but this bothers me.
Marshall | 05.06.08 09:43 PM
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Uhm... Beowulf... Jack is a nickname for John. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was known as Jack Kennedy to a lot of babyboomers.
Carla
Carla | 05.10.08 06:03 PM
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Uhm... Beowulf... Jack is a nickname for John. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was known as Jack Kennedy to a lot of babyboomers.
Carla
Carla | 05.10.08 06:03 PM
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