National Poll: The Media Love Affair With Barack Obama

Jim Kouri, CPP

A new Sacred Heart University national poll found 64.9% of Americans say the purported national media “love affair” with US Senator Barack Obama is very (30.5%) or somewhat real (34.4%). Another 26.5% suggested the love affair was somewhat unreal (8.5%) or not at all real (18.0%). Others, 8.6%, were unsure.

Majorities of both Republican and Democratic voters surveyed agreed the national media love affair is real — 78.3% and 58.5% respectively.

“It should come as no surprise that a large majority of Americans perceive Senator Obama as receiving more favorable media treatment compared to Senator McCain. Obama is a fresh, young and charismatic political figure. Any politician who is routinely compared to John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy, as Obama has been, will surely cultivate support among journalists. This will change, however, once the nominating conventions are over and the general election campaign begins. The euphoria will subside and we are likely to see more balanced coverage,” stated Dr. Gary Rose, professor and chair of Sacred Heart University’s Department of Government and Politics.More than two-thirds of Americans included in the poll, 67.9%, believed US Senator Barack Obama is receiving the most favorable media coverage to date in the campaign. Just 11.1% indicated US Senator John McCain was receiving the most favorable media coverage. Some, 14.8%, indicated they saw the media coverage as equal while 6.3% were unsure.

“When just 6.3% of those surveyed were unsure about the balance of media coverage for the candidates, it’s a good indication it is obvious to Americans – but maybe not to the national media,” said Jerry C. Lindsley, director of the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute.

http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/08/25/national-poll-the-media-love-affair-with-barack-obama/

2008-08-26