People cool to Michelle Obama, unfamiliar with Cindy McCain
By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The public hasn't taken to Michelle Obama yet, especially whites. And it's got a question about Cindy McCain: Who is she?
People are divided over whether they like Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, with 30 percent seeing her favorably and 35 percent unfavorably, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll released Wednesday.
They tilt positively toward McCain, spouse of Republican hopeful John McCain, by 27 percent to 17 percent.
In other words: While the two women are about equally liked, Obama is twice as disliked as McCain.
"Cindy seems like she's laid back and not trying to run her husband," said Linda Kaiser, 60, a Republican and church secretary from Clairton, Pa. "It's nice to have a brain, but they should let their husband be president."
Whites have an unfavorable view of Obama by 18 percentage points, while eight in 10 blacks like her. That is reminiscent of how Barack Obama fared in the Democratic primaries against Hillary Rodham Clinton.