Suppose the election were being held today. If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for - Barack Obama, the Democrat (or) John McCain, the Republican? [names rotated]

• McCain

  51.3%

• Obama

  35.1%

• Someone Else [volunteered]

  2.7%

• Undecided [volunteered]

  8.3%

• Refused

  2.6%

Did you ever seriously consider not voting in the general election if your favored candidate in the primaries didn’t get the nomination?

• Yes

  12.4%

• No

  84.7%

• Don't Know/Refused

  2.9%

How important is a candidate’s pick for vice president in deciding which presidential candidate you will vote for – is it very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important?

• Very Important

  37.5%

• Somewhat Important

  33.4%

• Not Very Important

  13.2%

• Not At All Important

  14.1%

• Don't Know/Refused

  1.8%

Would choosing a vice presidential candidate from the South make you more likely or less likely to vote for a presidential candidate, or would it make no difference?

• More Likely

  7.1%

• Less Likely

  2.5%

• Makes No Difference

  87.2%

• Not Sure

  2.5%

• Refused

  0.7%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

• Approve

  35.2%

• Disapprove

  52.5%

• Don't Know/Refused

  12.3%

Thinking about the current path that our nation is taking, do you think our country is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?

• Right Track

  24.5%

• Wrong Direction

  62.5%

• Don't Know/Refused

  13.0%

Which of the following comes closest to your preference regarding U.S. policy on the environment: [answers rotated]

The U.S. government should be more active in protecting the environment.
The U.S. government should continue its current environmental policies.
The U.S. government should less involved in environmental issues

• U.S Gov't More Active

  57.2%

• U.S. Gov't Continue Current

  21.2%

• U.S. Gov't Less Involved

  17.3%

• Not Sure [volunteered]

  3.9%

• Refused [volunteered]

  0.4%

Which of the following qualities is most important to you in selecting the candidate for whom you will vote? [answers rotated]

• Experience

  21.1%

• Knowledge/Intelligence

  18.2%

• Honesty

  25.7%

• Diplomatic Skills

  3.7%

• Holds Positions Similar to Yours

  5.8%

• Exhibits Values Similar to Yours

  19.8%

• Not Sure [volunteered]

  4.8%

• Refused

  1.0%

What is the one issue that is most important to you in the upcoming presidential election? [NOTE: Question open-ended; responses were categorized by trained interviewers]

• Economy

  35.7%

• Iraq

  12.0%

• Price of Gas

  5.8%

• Healthcare

  5.3%

I’m going to read a list of issues, for each issue, I’d like for you to tell me –if you had to choose—whether you think John McCain or Barack Obama would do a better job on that issue.

The first issue is healthcare. Who do you think would do better on that issue?

• McCain

  41.6%

• Obama

  40.8%

• Neither/Do the Same [volunteered]

  8.1%

• Not Sure [volunteered]

  9.1%

• Refused

  0.5%