McCain Popularity: “Broad but Not Deep”

Aug. 29, 2005

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the Vietnam War Navy POW who in more recent years has become famous for his frequent attacks on anything and anyone related to the Air Force, is once again seen as a leading Republican Presidential candidate. One recent Gallup poll has characterized his appeal as “broad, but not deep.” Predictably, he comes out well enough across the spectrum (51 percent approval), but his support among Republican conservatives (that is to say, the party mainstream, which has determined every nomination since 1980) is watery at best. Some 25 percent view him negatively. He has more appeal among liberals—only 23 percent view him in a negative way.

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