---
title: "Obama vs. Kerry"
description: "Views of Obama are more favorable than were opinions of John Kerry at a comparable time in the 2004 election cycle."
date: "2008-10-08"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/10/08/obama-vs-kerry/"
---

# Obama vs. Kerry

Views of Barack Obama are more favorable than were opinions of John Kerry at a comparable time in the 2004 election cycle; two-thirds of all registered voters (66%) say they have a favorable impression of Obama, compared with just 31% who have an unfavorable opinion. In early October 2004, 53% expressed a positive opinion of Kerry, while 41% expressed a negative view. McCain’s image (60% favorable vs. 35% unfavorable) is similar to George Bush’s at about the same point in the 2004 campaign; at that time, 57% of voters had a favorable opinion of Bush while 40% felt unfavorably toward him.[Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/975/obama-boosts-leadership-image-and-gains-significant-lead-over-mccain)