Obama's Explanation of 'Controversial' Remarks Moves Democrats and Independents

FLEMINGTON, N.J., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new national study among 843 self-reported Democrats, Republicans and independents, indicated that Senator Obama's explanation for his recent controversial remarks, successfully addressed criticism, especially among Democrats and independents.

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The study was conducted by HCD Research earlier today to obtain Americans' perceptions of video segments from Senator Obama's speech in Indiana yesterday, in which he addressed controversial comments that he made during a fundraiser in San Francisco on April 6. At the fundraising event, he was asked why his message has failed to resonate with working class voters in states like Pennsylvania. He responded by saying decades of lost jobs and unfulfilled promises from Washington have left some Pennsylvanians "bitter" and clinging to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

While viewing segments of the speech, participants indicated their levels of agreement by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. Participants were also asked pre- and post-viewing questions regarding their agreement regarding Barack Obama statements. To view detailed results and agreement curves, go to: www.mediacurves.com.

Among the study findings:

    Do you think Barack Obama's comments were elitist or out of touch, as his
critics have claimed?

    PRE VIEWING OF VIDEO
                Democrats          Republicans           Independents
    Yes           32 %                 57 %                 27 %
    No            41 %                 20 %                 40 %
    Not Sure      27 %                 23 %                 33 %


    POST VIEWING OF VIDEO
                Democrats          Republicans           Independents
    Yes           26 %                 47 %                 29 %
    No            62 %                 41 %                 58 %
    Not Sure      13 %                 11 %                 13 %

Do you agree with Senator Obama's comments regarding working class voters in states like Pennsylvania?

    POST VIEWING OF VIDEO
                Democrats          Republicans           Independents
    Yes           64 %                 38 %                 56 %
    No            22 %                 46 %                 29 %
    Not Sure      14 %                 16 %                 15 %

The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans' perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

HCD Research is a communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based marketing and communications research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company's web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.