A majority of Americans think it’s a good idea for a president to put members of the opposing political party in his Cabinet, as long as it’s not Barack Obama or John McCain.

Fifty-four percent (54%) like the idea, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But 29% disagree.

Last Thursday at a forum held on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and attended by both candidates, McCain said in response to a question that he would consider naming Obama to a newly created Cabinet post for national service. Obama joined in the resulting laughter but said in response to the same question, "We've got a little work to do before we get to that point. ..."

Part of that work, it seems, would be convincing voters that either of the men should be in the other’s Cabinet if he is elected president.

Fifty-three percent (53%) say McCain should not put Obama in his Cabinet, while 28% think it’s a good idea.

The numbers are very similar if the question is reversed: 52% say Obama should not put McCain in his Cabinet, although slightly more voters (33%) like the idea.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).

Voters say overwhelmingly (65%) that McCain should be secretary of Defense if made a Cabinet secretary, followed by 25% who favor him for secretary of State.

This is not surprising since voters have consistently trusted McCain more than Obama on national security issues and the handling of the war in Iraq. The Republican candidate is a Vietnam War Navy combat pilot who was imprisoned for several years in the infamous Hanoi Hilton.

A plurality (45%) envision Obama as secretary of State, while nearly as many (39%) support him for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Democratic candidate is highly regarded by America’s overseas allies, and his resume includes a stint as a community organizer in Chicago. Only five percent (5%) see him as secretary of Defense, but then only three percent (3%) see McCain as secretary of HHS.

Voters trust Obama far more than his opponent on health care issues.

Neither candidate is seen as a good fit for secretary of Education, although on this issue, too, Obama is trusted more than McCain.

McCain and Obama remain very close in both the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and Electoral College projections. One week after the conventions, Rasmussen Markets data shows the race to be a toss-up. Market results are updated on a 24/7 basis by market participants. It costs nothing to join and add your voice.

Voters are evenly divided as to who they think will win, but McCain voters are now more excited about the election than Obama’s.

Women are more likely than men to favor putting the opposing candidate in the Cabinet. Men reject the idea of Obama in McCain’s Cabinet by 34 percentage points -- 58% to 24%. But for women the spread is half that much, only 17 points, 49% to 32%.

When the question is McCain in Obama’s Cabinet, the gap is even narrower.

Men reject the idea 60% to 29%, but for women it’s a 10-point difference, 46% to 36%.
Democrats are far more supportive of reaching across the political aisle for Cabinet-level appointments.

Democratic voters by a 57% to 27% margin think it’s a good idea for a president to put members of the opposing party in his Cabinet. Republicans, by contrast, support the idea by a much narrower 46% to 39%.

Members of the two parties are also far more likely to favor putting their presidential candidate in the other man’s Cabinet. Ask Republicans if Obama should put McCain in his Cabinet, and 49% like the idea while 38% are opposed. But by a 76% to 11% margin GOP voters reject the idea of McCain making Obama a Cabinet secretary.

Similarly, 40% of Democrats think McCain should put Obama in his Cabinet, while 37% disagree. But 68% of Democratic voters oppose McCain becoming a member of Obama’s Cabinet, while just 18% like the idea.

Unaffiliated voters by nearly identical margins don’t like the idea of either man serving in the other’s Cabinet.

Rasmussen Reports has released polls on the presidential race this week for Missouri, Washington, Alaska, Michigan, Montana, Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Idaho, New Mexico and North Dakota Additional state poll results will be released at RasmussenReports.com each Monday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern and Tuesday-Friday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll is released each morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Other polling is released at 7:00 a.m., Noon, and 3:00 p.m. Eastern weekdays along with other updates as needed.

Premium Members can review full demographic crosstabs for all state polls and get the first look at all Rasmussen Reports polling data. Learn More.

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.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.