If John McCain is elected President, 63% of voters say it’s at least somewhat likely that he will reach across party lines and work effectively with both Republicans and Democrats. Fifty-two percent (52%) say the same will be true if Barack Obama is elected President. The two candidates remain very competitive in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

Eighty-five percent (85%) of Republicans believe McCain would reach across party lines effectively. Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats say that about Obama.

However, 47% of Democrats also believe that McCain could effectively reach across party lines. Republicans see Obama in a much more partisan light—just 25% believe he would function effectively on a bi-partisan basis.

Among unaffiliated voters, 61% see McCain as able to work effectively with both Republicans and Democrats. Fifty-six percent (56%) of unaffiliated voters say the same about Obama.

McCain is seen as the more uniting candidate by men and women, young and old, white voters, conservatives and moderates. Obama is seen that way by African-Americans, other minority voters, and those who are politically liberal.

Some of this perception may stem from the fact that McCain is perceived as closer to the political center than Obama. The Republican candidate is perceived as politically conservative by 45% of voters, moderate by 31%, and liberal by 17%. Obama is seen as politically liberal by 72%, moderate by 19%, and conservative by 3%.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) see Obama as Very Liberal. Twelve percent (12%) see McCain as Very Conservative.

Those perceptions of McCain have shifted only modestly since early April. For Obama, the numbers suggest that he is seen as further to the left than he was just a couple of months ago. In the previous survey, 54% viewed Obama as politically liberal.

The numbers are not precisely comparable to earlier results because earlier surveys offered respondents a choice between conservative, moderate, or liberal. This survey offered voters a choice between very conservative, somewhat conservative, moderate, somewhat liberal, and very liberal. With the wider range of options, the number labeling either candidate as politically moderate declined.

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