Poll: Pet owners prefer McCain
2008-07-08 18:10
Special Report
President-elect Barack Obama's incoming administration could include Republicans, or even some members of the current Cabinet, a top transition aide says.
Washington - If the presidential election goes to the dogs, John McCain is looking like best in show.
From George Washington's foxhound Drunkard to George W Bush's terriers Barney and Miss Beazley, pets are a long-time presidential tradition for which the presumed Republican nominee seems well prepared, having more than a dozen.
The apparent Democratic nominee Barack Obama, on the other hand, does not have a pet at home.
The pet-owning public seems to have noticed the difference.
An AP-Yahoo News poll found that pet owners favoured McCain over Obama 42% to 37%, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner.
McCain has quite a menagerie, including Sam the English Springer Spaniel, Coco the mutt, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the black and white cat, a ferret, three parakeets and several saltwater fish.
On the other hand, the poll found that among people who didn't have pets, Obama led McCain 48% to 34%. But that still leaves McCain looking strong, since the majority of homes have a pet.
- AP