---
title: "The Right Stuff"
description: "Americans see McCain as “personally qualified to be president.”"
date: "2008-08-18"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/08/18/the-right-stuff/"
---

# The Right Stuff

While Barack Obama holds a large lead on most positive traits — having new ideas, being personably likable, not being “a typical politician” — McCain’s greatest advantage is on being perceived as “personally qualified to be president.” By a two-to-one margin McCain (55%) is seen as more personally qualified than Obama (27%). Voters also see McCain as more likely to use good judgment in a crisis and willing to take a stand. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/893/obama-mccain-july)