Talking to America Part IV: Race and Age as Vote Determinants
Toronto, ON -After celebrating his 72nd birthday last week, a new Global Television poll of Americans conducted by Ipsos Reid finds that three in ten (29%) Americans `worry about [John McCain's] potential judgment and stability as President', based on what they have seen, read or heard. Seven in ten (69%) however, do not share this worry.
Younger adults seem to be most critical of the Republican Presidential Nominee's age, with nearly four in ten (38%) of 18-29 year olds saying that they 'worry about his potential judgment and stability'. Only two in ten (23%) of those 65+ say the same.
Not surprisingly, 48% of Democrats polled worry about McCain's age, while only 9% or Republicans say the same.
America ready for a Black President...?
For a majority (82%), race appears to be `a complete non-issue' in the race for the Presidency.
However, for one in six (16%) Americans, the issue of having a black or white President will be an important factor in their voting decision, with 5% of Americans saying that it is the `single most important issue' to them, and another 11% indicating that it is `just one of the many factors' that they will weigh when deciding for whom to vote.
Among the 1,132 people surveyed, almost one quarter (22%) personally think that America is not ready for a black president compared to three quarters (72%) who believe that America is ready for a black President. In fact, a majority (51%) believes that Obama's race will be a `positive factor' (17% very/ 34% somewhat) that will work in his favor. One in three (34%), on the other hand, think that his race will be a `negative factor' (8% very/26% somewhat) that will work against him.
These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Global Television from August 7 to August 12, 2008. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1132 adult Americans was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of the United States of America been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual American population according to Census data.
For more information on this news release, please contact: Dr. Michael Gross Associate Vice President Ipsos Reid Public Affairs 202-420-2012 [email protected]
About Ipsos Reid Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
About Ipsos Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.
Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe.
Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999.
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