Letters to the Editor
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The perception is wrong but it is there
How many supporters of Senator Obama posting here believe, like the majority of those polled, in John McCain's honesty?
Senator Clinton's "dishonesty" and Senator Obama's "inexperience" were always going to be part of the GOP's talking points in the next election as these are the easiest things to base attacks on. The Democratic primaries just pushed the meme to the forefront sooner as each candidates' supporters, if not the candidates themselves, pushed the same points.
I suspect if the poll asked questions about being "experienced enough to be President" that the numbers would be about the same but favoring Senator Clinton instead of Senator Obama. Unfortunately, McCain's probably ahead in both scenarios in the perception of many Americans.
Don't forget that voters believing things that aren't true is what gets Republicans elected. Both Democratic candidates and their supporters need to do a better job of defining McCain as both less honest and less capable of being President.