Brzezinski cherry-picked polling to assert "McCain's crossover appeal is apparently even greater than" Obama's
SUMMARY: Citing a Pew Research poll, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski asserted that "John McCain's crossover appeal is apparently even greater than Barack Obama's." However, polling has differed on the question of whether McCain or Obama would have greater "crossover appeal" -- appeal to members of the opposite party -- and two polls more recent than the Pew poll Brzezinski cited found that Obama received greater "crossover" support.
During the March 7 edition of MSNBC Live, anchor Mika Brzezinski asserted, "[Sen.] John McCain's crossover appeal is apparently even greater than [Sen.] Barack Obama's. A Pew Research poll shows that about 14 percent of Democrats say they would vote for McCain over Obama. But just 8 percent of Republicans say they would vote for Obama." In fact, polling has differed on the question of whether McCain or Obama would have greater "crossover appeal," and two polls more recent than the February 20-24 Pew poll Brzezinski cited found that Obama received greater "crossover" support: An ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 16 percent of Republicans would vote for Obama, and 14 percent of Democrats would vote for McCain in a hypothetical matchup; a Cook-RT Strategies poll found that 13 percent of Republicans would vote for Obama, compared with 10 percent of Democrats who would vote for McCain. Additionally, the Pew Research poll Brzezinski cited also found that overall, 50 percent of registered voters said they would vote for Obama, compared with 43 percent who said they would vote for McCain.
Other recent polls have found different results from the Pew poll on the "crossover" question, and four of those five polls showed Obama winning against McCain overall:
- An ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted February 28-March 2 found that 14 percent of Democrats would vote for McCain and 16 percent of Republicans would vote for Obama. Obama beat McCain 53-40 among registered voters.
- The Cook-RT Strategies poll -- also conducted February 28-March 2 -- found that 13 percent of Republicans would vote for Obama and 10 percent of Democrats who would vote for McCain. Obama beat McCain 47-38 among registered voters.
- A Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll conducted February 21-25 found that 14 percent of Democrats would vote for McCain in a hypothetical matchup against Obama, while 12 percent of Republicans would vote for Obama. McCain beat Obama 44-42 percent among registered voters.
- A CBS News/New York Times poll conducted February 20-24 found that 14 percent of Republicans would support Obama, compared with 11 percent of Democrats who would support McCain. Obama beat McCain 50-38 among registered voters.
- A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll conducted February 19-20 found that 19 percent of Democrats would vote for McCain in a hypothetical matchup against Obama, while 12 percent of Republicans would vote for Obama. Obama beat McCain 47-43 among registered voters.
From the 9 a.m. ET hour of the March 7 edition of MSNBC News Live:
BRZEZINSKI: Well, MSNBC keeps you up to the minute with your top political headlines. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama head to Wyoming today ahead of tomorrow's caucuses there. There are 12 delegates up for grabs there. There's still no winner to report in the Texas caucuses. Right now Obama is leading Clinton 56 to 44 percent, but fewer than half of the precincts have reported their results. And John McCain's crossover appeal is apparently even greater than Barack Obama's. A Pew Research poll shows that about 14 percent of Democrats say they would vote for McCain over Obama. But just 8 percent of Republicans say they would vote for Obama. Hmm.
So the question now: Is Pennsylvania the new Iowa?
I watched this morning and all Mika and her guests could blab about was how the Democrats are "imploding" and "committing political suicide" because Hillary and Barack are campaigning against each other.
When the primary is over and the nominee is chosen, no one, and I mean no one (except the talking heads on tv) will remember or even care what is taking place right now. It'll all be about getting the party of criminals out of power.
Unfortunately Foghorn they all do it. The bigger ones have just learned how not to get caught. Ultimate power ultimately corrupts.
Hillary's apparent endorsement of McCain over Obama as the more qualified and experienced candidate is going to come back and haunt Obama if he is the nominee. McCain will use Hillary's words for everything they are worth.
A poll of "experts" had the Patriots defeating the Giants in Superbowl 42.
The only poll that matters is the one on election day when the real players take the field..
I don't know how you folks at MMFA do it... I don't know how you can stomach watching this stuff, and stomach digesting it, into the pellets and small piles it forms, once it's been squeezed down from it's first unchewed appearance, into it's final plopped form.
You watched this hack giver her profound insights into something called "crossover appeal"?
("crossover appeal", it sounds like something Rupaul would know about, or maybe even Sen. Larry Craig... or more specifically, Larry Craig's right foot would know about.)
I don't know how you folks at MMFA do it. You must have a certain degree of "professional insensitivity", like do homicide cops necessarily have, to the disgusting and stomach-wrenching things they have to see, every day, as part of their jobs.
Me, I'd be much more comfortable I think, having to examine an unfortunately bullet-ridden corpse, than to watch even once, that hackwoman give her profound insights into "crossover appeal". I didn't bother clicking the video, the transcript was enough thank you.
Oh, I don't know. I think McBush isn't as appealing as he thinks he is!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/6/145023/7178/225/470640
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
There is only one even remotely accurate poll to reflect 11/08, and that is the primary/caucuss turnout. That's it, the most likely voter poll of them all shows that Democrats are turning out 2-1 to Republican across the nation. In almost every single state the returns are the same, a weak turnout for the Republican, and a historic turnout for the Democrat.
So, when you hear about McCain's appeal in these polls running up to the election, remember the HUMP he has to climb in November, the 2 Democrats will definitely be at the polls to every Republican that will definitely be there too.
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
Maybe Mika's just using one of the Clinton campaign talking points. Lanny Davis has been on show after show pointing to this poll as proof that Hillary's ability to hold core Democratic voters is the reason Democrats must nominate her.
DAVIS: But the Pew Research Poll, which is one of the most respected national polls, shows that there's a significant defection rate from Democrats to Senator McCain with Senator Obama as the nominee, because there's so little known about him, the Democratic Party base...March 6, 2008