PRINCETON, NJ -- Most Americans reject the suggestion that any of the leading presidential candidates look down on the average American -- though more say it applies to Hillary Clinton (32%) than to Barack Obama (26%) or John McCain (22%).
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The campaign flap over how the candidates perceive average Americans stems from Obama's recent comments about the psychology of working-class, small-town voters in Pennsylvania, saying, "And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling 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."
Sens. Clinton and McCain have both labeled these comments "elitist," and Clinton, in particular, has tried to capitalize on them leading up to Tuesday's crucial Pennsylvania primary election. But, as noted, according to the new USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted April 18-20, only 26% of Americans believe Obama "looks down on the average American" -- a smaller percentage than say this of Clinton -- while 69% think he "respects" the average American.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/106744/Only-26-Say-Obama-Looks-Down-Americans.aspx