Saturday, July 05, 2008

Email to a Friend

Barack Obama leads John McCain 55% to 31% in Rhode Island, according to the first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state since the primaries.

Rhode Island has cast its four Electoral College votes for the Democratic candidate in eight out of the last ten presidential elections. In 2004, John Kerry enjoyed a decisive 59% to 39% victory in the Ocean State. Rasmussen Markets data gives Obama a % chance of winning Rhode Island which is classified as “Safe Democratic” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power calculator.

Obama leads McCain by twenty or more points among both men and women in the state. The race is closer among voters not affiliated with either major political party; in this category, Obama leads 46% to 36%.

The Democratic candidate is viewed favorably by 68% and unfavorably by 30% of Rhode Island voters. McCain’s numbers are 52% favorable, 46% unfavorable.

Voters in Rhode Island are split on the possibility of a Obama-Clinton ticket. While 41% believe Hillary Clinton should be Obama’s running mate, 47% disagree. Clinton won the Democratic primary in the state by eighteen points. Among those who support Obama, 46% say Clinton should get the nod while 42% disagree.

While 36% of Rhode Island voters think McCain is too old to be president, only 35% think Obama is too inexperienced for the job. Those numbers differ from those found on the national level.

Two thirds of voters (66%) think the top priority in Iraq should be getting the troops home. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Rhode Island voters think winning the war is more important.

When it comes to current oil prices, 56% of voters think drilling in offshore oil wells should be allowed, while 34% disagree. If offshore oil drilling were permitted, 52% of voters think it would be at least somewhat likely that gas prices would go down, while 43% find this outcome unlikely.

Sixty percent (60%) of Rhode Island voters think President George W. Bush is doing a poor job as president. Just 24% give the president good or excellent ratings. National Bush job approval ratings hit a new low in June.

In Rhode Island’s Senate race, Democratic Incumbent Jack Reed finds himself cruising to re-election in November.

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

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free)… let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.