Just 28% of voters believe that John McCain’s campaign has been helped by talking about the relationship between Barack Obama and William Ayers. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 50% believe talk of that issue has hurt McCain’s effort while 15% say it has had no impact.

Ayers, now a college professor in Chicago, was part of a domestic terrorist group in the 1960s and remains unrepentant for his activities during that era. Just 13% of American voters have a favorable opinion of him while 62% hold an unfavorable view. Twenty-five percent (25%) don’t know enough to have an opinion either way.

Among political liberals, 25% have a favorable opinion of him while 44% give Ayers negative reviews. Seventy-three percent (73%) have an unfavorable opinion of Ayers, including 59% with a Very Unfavorable opinion.

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Overall, voters are evenly divided as to whether Obama has told the complete truth about his relationship with Ayers—41% say he has and 42% disagree. Obama and Ayers met during the 1990s in Chicago and travelled in similar political circles at the time Obama launched his political career.

In terms of how they will vote, 39% say the Obama-Ayers relationship is at least somewhat important, including 24% who say it is Very Important. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disagree and say that the issue is not an important voting consideration.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Republicans say the Ayers issue is at least Somewhat Important. Only 16% of Democrats agree along with 37% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

If Obama is elected, just 15% of all voters believe Ayers will have a lot of influence over the policies of the Obama Administration. Another 18% say he will have a little bit of influence. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say he will have hardly any influence or none at all.

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