Monday, July 14, 2008

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In the first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Louisiana voters since Hillary Clinton’s exit from the Democratic race, John McCain leads Barack Obama 54% to 34%. When “leaners” are included, McCain is ahead 56% to 37%.

In May, McCain had a 50% to 41% lead over Obama. The race was even closer between the Republican and Clinton, in which he lead 47% to 40%.

McCain is backed by 87% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats in Louisiana. Obama earns support from just 57% of Democrats and 8% of Republicans. Among unaffiliated voters, McCain tops Obama 50% to 27%.

McCain leads 68% to 19% among White voters while Obama is supported by 92% of African-Americans. McCain leads 60% to 30% among men and 50% to 37% among women.

Nationally, the two candidates are very competitive in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Rasmussen Markets data shows that McCain is currently given a % chance of winning Louisiana’s nine Electoral College votes this November. George W. Bush handedly won the state in 2004 by a 57% to 42% margin. At the time this poll was released, Louisiana is ranked as “likely Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters in Louisiana have a favorable view of McCain, while 32% have an unfavorably view of him. Obama’s numbers are 43% favorable and 46% unfavorable.

While 35% of Louisiana voters think the economy is the most important issue in the upcoming election, 30% of voters say that of national security.

Three out of four Louisiana voters (75%) think drilling in offshore oil wells should be allowed in the United States, while 66% think it is at least somewhat likely gas prices would go down if this practice was implemented. Just 50% in Louisiana favor a proposal requiring Americans to conserve energy and reduce the amount of oil they consume.

The survey also found that 52% of voters favor a proposal to allow offshore drilling if it included a provision requiring Americans to conserve energy. An identical percentage favored a proposal allowing offshore drilling without a conservation requirement.

While 55% of Louisiana voters think Obama is too inexperienced to be president, just 22% think McCain is too old for the job. National results for this question and other key stats of Election 2008 can be found at Obama-McCain: By the Numbers.

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President Bush earns good or excellent ratings from 39% of voters in Louisiana, while 44% of voters say he is doing a poor job.

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