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Obama Speech Grades: 51% Good or Excellent, 26% Fair, 21% Poor
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Eighty-four percent (84%) of America’s Likely Voters say they have seen or heard at least some portion of Barack Obama’s Tuesday morning speech on race and national unity (see Speech). The speech has become one of the most watched YouTube videos and 82% say they are following news about it somewhat or very closely.

Among those who have seen or heard some of the speech, 51% said it was good or excellent, 26% said fair, and 21% gave the Senator’s remarks a grade of poor.

Not surprisingly, opinions divided sharply along partisan and racial lines. Among Democrats, 67% said the speech was good or excellent. Fifty-three percent (53%) of unaffiliated voters agreed along with 31% of Republicans. Eighty-six percent (86%) of African-American voters said the speech was good or excellent along with 45% of White voters.

Prior to release of this poll, Rasmussen Reports looked at the Impact of Pastor Wright and THE SPEECH on Election 2008.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely voters remain somewhat or very concerned about Obama’s relationship with Pastor Jeremiah Wright. That figure includes 72% of Republicans, 54% of unaffiliated voters, and 45% of Democrats. Just 36% of African-Americans are concerned along with 61% of Whites. Voters under 50 are less concerned than their elders.

Thirty percent (30%) said the speech was racially unifying and 21% said it was racially divisive. A plurality, 37%, said it was neither.

Over the past month, Obama’s favorable ratings have fallen nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Since stories about his former Pastor made the news, Obama has lost ground to Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination and to John McCain in the general election.

Many pundits have already weighed in: Larry Sabato looks at The Crapshoot of Presidential Politics, Froma Harrop considers Divides Obama Doesn't Bridge, Dick Morris says Pastor Wright: This Too Shall Pass, Susan Estrich offers her thoughts on The Speech, Michelle Malkin Says Goodbye to the Glowbama Mystique, and Robert Novak looked at the Democratic Racial Divide.

Just 8% hold a favorable opinion of Wright, while 58% hold an unfavorable view. A Rasmussen Reports video analysis examined whether or not Obama can recover from his Pastor Problem. Scott Rasmussen also discussed the electoral impact of the Wright controversy on the Fox News Channel and on WNYW-TV, New York .

A Reuters report looked at Obama's speech and members of Pastor Wright’s Church offered a different perspective on their spiritual leader. Fox News looked at whether or not the speech will help Obama regain his footing.

See survey results and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports Election Edge™ Premium Service offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage available anywhere.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

Survey of 800 Likely Voters
March 19-20, 2008

Obama's Speech Ratings

Excellent

30%

Good

21%

Fair

26%

Poor

21%

Not Sure

1%

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