Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama has posted an eight-point lead over his Republic rival John McCain
WASHINGTON: Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama has posted an eight-point lead over his Republic rival John McCain with Americans perceiving him to be the best person to fix ailing economy but they still question his ability to handle global issues.
Apart from an overall eight-point advantage over McCain, Obama has posted a strong 19-point lead on the economy that has become a particularly steep challenge for his rival, according to a poll by The Washington Post/ ABC News.
The survey also showed that the 47-year-old Illinois Democrat continued to hold the edge on many domestic issues over McCain.
However, questions about Obama's experience remain, particularly his ability to deal with national security and international issues -- 49 per cent have said his level of experience would hamper his ability to serve effectively as President, while 40 per cent said it would help.
Asked if he would make a good commander-in-chief, 48 per cent said 'yes'.
But the survey showed that 72 per cent thought that Senator McCain had enough knowledge about world affairs to be a good President and was judged as the one with greater knowledge of the world by more than 2 to 1.
The Senator from Arizona also holds a narrow edge as the candidate better suited to deal with an unexpected major crisis, and he is more trusted, by a six-point margin, on the issue of fighting terrorism.
But by a 2 to 1 margin, Americans think that Obama would do more to improve the country's image abroad than McCain would.
Senator McCain's problem is on the domestic front where the November Presidential election will really get to except for the major issue of Iraq.
Asked whom they trust more to handle the economy, 54 per cent named Obama, while 35 per cent said McCain. The Illinois Democrat also holds double-digit leads on dealing with the federal budget deficit and on immigration.
On social issues such as abortion and same-sex civil unions, 56 per cent prefer Obama, 32 per cent McCain.
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