Opinion: Poll: Voters fear John McCain will follow George Bush’s policies

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Well, we’ll admit it, we’re suckers for polls, and a recent one that our cousins at The Swamp tipped us to is interesting -- showing that Barack Obama is tapping a potentially rich vein in trying to tie John McCain to George Bush.

The Gallup/USA Today poll found that 68% of voters said they were concerned when asked whether they thought McCain would pursue ‘policies that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued.’ Of those polled, 49% said they were ‘very concerned.’

As the poll analysis points out: ‘It is clearly a delicate balancing act for McCain, as Bush remains relatively popular with the Republican base. While only 28% of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing as president, a majority of Republicans (60%) still do. Bush’s approval rating among current McCain supporters is slightly lower, at 55%.’

Dive deeper into the poll and something else interesting emerges -- people aren’t all that keen on change, either. Some 49% said they were concerned when asked whether ‘Obama would go too far in changing the policies that George W. Bush pursued.’ Of those polled, 30% said they were ‘very concerned.’

So the advantage for the moment goes to change -- in moderation. Which might help explain Obama’s embrace Tuesday of the concept behind the Bush administration’s faith-based initiative program.

-- Scott Martelle