http://www.gallup.com/poll/108859/Obama-Maintaining-Support-Among-Liberals.aspxJuly 16, 2008
Obama Maintaining Support Among Liberals
Support may be increasing slightly
by Jeffrey M. Jones
PRINCETON, NJ -- Barack Obama's support among political liberals has not declined in recent weeks, and shows evidence of a modest uptick. Currently, 82% of self-identified liberals (including 92% of liberals who identify themselves as Democrats) say they would vote for Obama rather than John McCain if the election were held today. His support from both groups is the highest to date in Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
Some on the political left have criticized Obama for his recent centrist-leaning positions on some issues, positions that appear to be a departure from what he advocated earlier in the campaign. For example, Obama previously said he would oppose legislation providing immunity to telecommunications companies that provided customer data to the federal government as part of its anti-terrorism efforts. But when an anti-terror bill came up last week that provided the companies with this type of immunity, he voted in favor of it. Also, Obama has said he may refine his position on the war in Iraq after he tours the country and meets with U.S. military leaders. Some took this as a signal he may be backing away from his call for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office, although Obama responded by reiterating his support for his withdrawal timetable.
Despite questions about his commitment to a "progressive" agenda, Gallup Poll Daily tracking data show that rank-and-file liberal Democrats are no less likely to support Obama now than they were earlier in the campaign.
Obama's performance among liberals compares favorably to that of his former Democratic nomination rival, Hillary Clinton, when she was still an active candidate. In March to June presidential trial heats matching Clinton against McCain, Clinton's support topped out at 81% among all liberals and 89% among liberal Democrats, both below where Obama currently stands.
Obama is not alone in receiving complaints about his issue positions from party ideologues. McCain, too, has been criticized by some prominent (conservative) Republican Party supporters for his past or present moderate positions on campaign finance reform, illegal immigration, and tax cuts. But as has been the case for Obama, this criticism has done little to faze the party rank-and-file, as McCain's support among conservative Republicans in the presidential trial heat versus Obama has always been very high and quite stable.
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