George W. Bush may do as much damage to John McCain's chances of being elected as Jeremiah Wright does to Barack Obama's, according to results of a recent USA Today/Gallup poll. Click the Play Button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Turns out President Bush might do more damage to John McCain's campaign than the Reverend Jeremiah Wright does to Barack Obama's.
A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds 38% of likely voters say McCain's ties to the president make them less likely to vote for the presumptive nominee in November. 33% says Obama's relationship with Wright has the same effect.
However, there is more of an upside when it comes to the relationship with President Bush, with 7% of those surveyed saying they're more likely to vote for McCain because of his association with Mr. Bush. That's compared to only 1% who say they're more likely to vote for Obama because of Wright.
The pollsters say it's also important to look at how these personal associations affect the candidates among their bases. If you do that, it looks like Wright may do more harm to Obama. That's because 19% of Democrats say they're less likely to vote for Obama because of his ties to Wright, while just 10% of Republicans say they're less likely to vote for McCain because of his ties to President Bush.
However, among the general electorate, the two appear to do the same amount of damage. In particular, President Bush may hurt McCain's ability to attract Democrats and independents.
Here’s my question to you: Which is more damaging to the campaigns: President Bush's relationship with John McCain or Reverend Wright's association with Barack Obama?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Dave from Houston writes:
Bush is the bigger albatross. Barack Obama and John McCain are running for president, not archbishop. The fact that McCain has constantly supported Bush on illegal and controversial policies is much more damning than the sermons of Wright. Obama is not some googly-eyed party boy who is under the Svengali-like influence of a severe older man (see Bush-Cheney). He has a powerful intellect and knows where to accept Wright's ideas and where to reject them. McCain, on the other hand, stands wherever it is politically expedient at the moment.
Scott from Billings, Montana writes:
Jack, Rev. Wright gave some speeches. Bush and his cronies lied to America and the result of that lie is over 4,000 dead American soldiers plus thousands more wounded. The answer is obvious: The Wright issue is over; soldiers are still dying.
Mark from Asheville, North Carolina writes:
Rev. Wright, by a mile! After Denver, he will appear in numerous attack ads, aimed at voters who aren’t even paying attention now. The ads will be enormously effective, just like the Willie Horton ad that sank Dukakis. All the Republicans will need is to peel off ONE Blue State, and it's over.
R. from New Hampshire writes:
Jack, Since McCain's favorite Pastor Hagee has called the Catholic Church the "Great Whore", I would think the pastor debate between the two might come off as a tie. That being said, Bush is the tie-breaker and McCain the loser.
Jackson from Rome, Georgia writes:
At my current level of disgust for the Republican Party, I'd seriously consider voting for Reverend Wright himself before I voted for another Republican.
Drew from Florida writes:
Bush hands down. Wright has no real power. Bush has been damaging America for two terms. His list is far too large to post here. Report on something we don't know, please.