As Barack Obama was officially named the US Democratic presidential candidate, a new poll suggests that the African-American senator trails Republican rival John McCain on the issues of terrorism and Iraq.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll on Wednesday, indicated that the American public considers McCain better than Obama on terrorism and Iraq.
The poll also suggests that McCain is a stronger leader who would have better judgment in an international crisis.
Fifty-eight per cent of those questioned think Obama can handle the responsibilities of commander-in-chief, but that pales in comparison to the 78 per cent who feel that way about McCain.
By a 51 per cent to 41 per cent margin, voters regard the senator from Arizona as a stronger leader, and they think he would have better judgment than Obama in an international crisis by a 52 per cent to 43 per cent spread.
On the issue of the Iraq war, McCain supported the US-led invasion and has consistently called for seeing the conflict to a successful conclusion, without so-called timetables. However, the senator from Illinois opposed the invasion.
