Sept. 2008 Poll: Presidential Race | Senate Race | Analysis | Full Poll Data
Poll Highlights: Presidential Race
Key Findings Among Registered Voters
Note: The individual rounded percents may cause the total of some pies to be greater than or less than 100%.
Presidential Preference
If the 2008 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were (Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats) and (John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans), for whom would you vote? (Among likely voters)
Virginia (Sept. 21)
National (Sept. 7)
Favorability: Sarah Palin
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Sarah Palin? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Virginia (Sept. 21)
National (Sept. 7)
Key Issues
Thinking ahead to the November presidential election, what is the single most important issue in your choice for president?
Virginia (Sept. 21)
National (Sept. 7)
Key Issues and the Candidates
Regardless of who you may support, who do you trust more to handle [ITEM] - (Obama) or (McCain)
The Economy
Fixing the problems with major financial institutions
The War in Iraq
International Affairs
The U.S. campaign against terrorism
An unexpected major crisis
Candidate Qualities
Regardless of who you may support, who do you think [ITEM] - (Obama) or (McCain)?
would do more to bring needed change to Washington
better understands the economic problems people in this country are having
is more honest and trustworthy
is the stronger leader
McCain's Leadership
If McCain were elected president, do you think he'd (mainly lead the country in a new direction), or (mainly continue in George W. Bush's direction)?
Virginia (Sept. 21)
National (Sept. 7)
Candidate Qualifications
Please tell me whether the following statements apply to (Obama/McCain), or not?
a) He would be a good commander-in-chief of the military
Obama
McCain
b) He knows enough about world affairs to serve effectively as president
Obama
McCain
Race vs. Age
In your choice for president, how important is the [ITEM] - very important, somewhat important, not so important or not important at all?
Race of the candidate
Age of the candidate
Methodology
This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone September 18-21, 2008, among a random sample of 1,001 adults in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. Among the 857 registered voters it is three points; it is four points among the sample of 698 likely voters. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
