< Back to Front Page Text size +

Americans want new course, poll says

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor June 19, 2008 02:55 PM

A new poll would seem to augur well for Democrat Barack Obama, though his Republican presidential rival is also promising change.

The AP/Ipsos survey released today shows an immense appetite for change -- in fact, the most since the survey began five years ago.

Those who said the country was on the wrong track totaled 76 percent, up from 71 percent in April and 66 percent near the end of 2007. The 17 percent who said the country was headed in the right direction was down from 24 percent since April.

Six in ten of those who chose "wrong track" blamed the struggling economy, while "poor leadership" accounted for 23 percent, while 20 percent said the war in Iraq.

Other findings when respondents were asked, "Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?":

-- Men were more likely to believe the US is headed in the right direction.

-- Just one in 10 Americans with household incomes below $25,000 feel the country is headed the right way, compared with 21 percent of those with household incomes of $50,000 to $75,000.

-- One-fourth of Republicans and Republican-leaners believe the country is headed in the right direction, compared with 11 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners.

The survey, conducted June 12-16, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
.

Typical smears from the Liberal Elite Bias Media. John McCain has LOTS of experience with women, and if you're looking for women's issues, John McCain has got TONS of issues! John McCain will win when voters go to the polls in January. Never surrender!

http://www.womenforjohnmccain.com/

.

Posted by Christina West June 19, 08 04:14 PM
.

It really boggles my mind how anyone could say that the US is on the "right track" in any sense. We're in the midst of an economic slump, involved in a war that many feel is unjust, we have a president with the lowest approval rating in history, and are still conforming to a bipartisan system that forces us to choose between two presidential nominees who have needed to spend tens of millions of dollars to compete in what is essentially a popularity contest. I do feel that Obama is our best chance to get closer to the "right track" at this point, but there's an awful lot more that needs to be addressed before I could ever say that we're headed in the right direction.

Posted by Dan L. June 19, 08 04:20 PM
.

"poor leadership" accounted for 23 percent, while 20 percent said the war in Iraq.

After all the mis-handeling and bold face lies that the bush admin dished out over the last eight year, only 23 percent of this country is smart enought to reconize it. How sad and how stupid americans really are.
but I guess its all right as long as we get to go home after work today and watch "lost", "Bacholer" (sp) "dancing with the stars", "weakest link", etc.

Posted by denis June 19, 08 04:25 PM
.

"John McCain will win when voters go to the polls in January."

That's right, Christina. Wait until January to cast your vote, and do the rest of us a huge favor.

Posted by SJB June 19, 08 04:36 PM
.

Hey Christina, voters go to the poles in NOVEMBER not January, dumba**.

Posted by Jason R. June 19, 08 04:37 PM
.

"new poll would seem to augur well" , isn't that AUGUR supposed to be ARGUE!! Has the press out-sourced our English news to India also? I stopped reading this article as soon as I saw the error - be it a typo or spelling mistake - its too gross to read. How about hiring an AMERICAN Englsih speaker and writer for
e-news using the English language.

Posted by 23456 June 19, 08 04:41 PM
.

i"m confused by Christina's rant. I didn't see women mentioned as a poll issue. Typical right wing biased reaction.

Posted by CWebster June 19, 08 04:46 PM
.

we want a new course is right...but it is not relegated to just getting out of Iraq. Americans like me want a new course when it comes to education for our kids as well as a reduction in taxes too. Democrats say they are for this, but they have fostered some of the biggest problems in American Society today. Generations of deadbeats on welfare and section 8 with no incentive to get off and contribute to the rest of society. More social programs equal more social problems! The Republicans and Democrats need to both steer new courses for America.

Posted by Terrence June 19, 08 04:47 PM
.

McCain has lots of experience with women, he's been married 3 times and had a number of affairs!

I am just surprised that the fact that we have blown over half a trillion on a useless war wasn't mentioned as a factor in why our economy is tanking.

Posted by michael June 19, 08 04:49 PM
.

Hey 23456
AUGUR is the correct word. It means to forshadow or portend. Shame shame

Posted by Cynthia Webster June 19, 08 04:51 PM
.

Christina, I guess your post shows how "brilliant" the women are who are for McCain! SJB...let's hope she waits till January to vote!!! Maybe she'll tell the rest of the "womenforjohnmccain" to vote in January too!!!

Posted by mb June 19, 08 04:52 PM
.

Dear 23456,

Get your dictionary out. Augur is a fine English word (even if originally Latin).

Posted by Sharilyn Steketee June 19, 08 04:53 PM
.

John McCain is "loyal Bushie" now, and has completely destroyed his "maverick" image...doesn't matter what the issue is, what the Bush administration wants, John McCain will espouse...he's an antiquated, useless old baggage now...imagine what 8 years in office will do to the old man, and I know, because I'm an old man myself...that's a job for a young, healthy man.....he speaks ONLY for the super rich, period...we need jobs, and real energy independence, NOT utilizing fossil fuels...we need to rebuild bridges and schools...I think back to what my departed mother used to say about McCain, and she was a Reagan democrat...even with his service to this country, she would say "there's something wrong with a man who will let them brake his arms everyday for six years...that's not being a hero, that's being a bit starnge"...now I agree...PTSD galore in that guy...I don't want hin NEAR the button.....

Posted by James Davis June 19, 08 04:56 PM
.

Actually the word augur is right. It's defined as to either predict or bode, as in the new poll would (seem to predict a state of wellness or "will be") for the Democrat.... or to argue. But argue does not make sense (argue well?), so the definition in this context is predict. What I find ironic is that you took the time to rant about this being an error in their ability to write "american" English when the word is in our dictionary and you misspelled the word "English".

Posted by Paula B June 19, 08 04:57 PM
.

John McCain is "loyal Bushie" now, and has completely destroyed his "maverick" image...doesn't matter what the issue is, what the Bush administration wants, John McCain will espouse...he's an antiquated, useless old baggage now...imagine what 8 years in office will do to the old man, and I know, because I'm an old man myself...that's a job for a young, healthy man.....he speaks ONLY for the super rich, period...we need jobs, and real energy independence, NOT utilizing fossil fuels...we need to rebuild bridges and schools...I think back to what my departed mother used to say about McCain, and she was a Reagan democrat...even with his service to this country, she would say "there's something wrong with a man who will let them brake his arms everyday for six years...that's not being a hero, that's being a bit starnge"...now I agree...PTSD galore in that guy...I don't want hin NEAR the button.....

Posted by James Davis June 19, 08 04:58 PM
.

Heh. Follow 'Christina's' link and reset your sense of humour to snark folks.

Posted by Cliff June 19, 08 07:26 PM
.

yeah mccain has womens issues - how about his wife busted for faking pain killer prescriptions for one:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/

Posted by john June 19, 08 07:36 PM
.

Anybody who thinks this country on the "right track" has got to be a serious kool-aid drinker or someone who is just not paying attention. The economy is on the skids and we're spending thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars on a stupid war that two-thirds of the people don't even want to be involved in.

Get those damned Republicans OUT of office!

Posted by Tom in California June 19, 08 11:58 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

News from the Washington Bureau

Declassification of secret documents to be delayed

WASHINGTON - President Obama will maintain a lid of secrecy on millions of pages of military and intelligence documents that were scheduled to be declassified by the end of the year, according to administration officials. (Globe Staff, 12:25 a.m.)

Tax break on profits again in jeopardy

An effort in Congress to eliminate a generous tax break for hedge fund managers, private-equity specialists, and venture capitalists, which could be taken up next week in the House Ways and Means Committee, is being met with resistance by opponents who say the move would weaken the economy. (Globe Staff, 11/26/09)

In N.E. governors’ races, GOP sees a chance to build on gains

Invigorated by state house victories earlier this month in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans are turning their attention to governorships in New England, where they believe the retirement of four incumbents and a competitive race in Massachusetts has created wide-open opportunities. (Globe Correspondent, 11/25/09)

Senators voice optimism on public option

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by their weekend victory on a vote beginning the health care debate, several Senate Democrats expressed optimism yesterday they could find a way to keep a government-run insurance plan in the sweeping bill. (Globe Staff, 11/23/09)

Health overhaul narrowly advances

The Senate narrowly overcame the first of two critical hurdles to passing sweeping health care legislation last night, mustering the minimum of 60 votes required to begin debate on the bill and opening a volatile floor fight likely to last weeks. (Globe Staff 11/22/09)

Latinos, blacks take harder hit amid recession

Latinos and African-Americans in Massachusetts and across the country are facing high unemployment rates that could spiral to levels not seen in decades as the jobless economic recovery drags on, analysts and urban community advocates say. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Some lawmakers push back Catholic church on health care bill

Representative Louise Slaughter has a consistent record advocating abortion rights. So the New York Democrat was stunned recently to receive, for the first time, a letter from a Catholic diocese in western New York, demanding that she explain her vote this month against a health care amendment prohibiting insurance companies from paying for abortions. (Globe Staff, 11/21/09)

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)
archives