Two weeks ago, an NBC/WSJ poll found an interesting trend in American public opinion: after hearing about Jeremiah Wright’s controversial sermons in a constant loop for months, voters were more concerned with John McCain’s association with Bush than Obama’s association with his former pastor. (Specifically, 43% of respondents were worried about McCain & Bush; 32% about Obama & Wright.)

Today, a new Gallup poll points to a similar public sentiment.

George W. Bush may do as much damage to John McCain’s chances of being elected as Jeremiah Wright does to Barack Obama’s, according to results of a recent USA Today/Gallup poll.

a May 1-3 poll finds 38% of likely voters saying McCain’s association with Bush makes am less likely to vote for McCain, while 33% say Obama’s association with Wright diminishes air likelihood of voting for Obama.

A strong majority of Americans (64%), including a near majority of Republicans (47%) said a Wright issue will not have any effect on air vote.

I’m a little torn as to whear this is good news for a likely Democratic nominee or not.

On a one h&, I’m delighted Americans are more concerned about McCain & Bush than Obama & Wright. That’s how it should be. On a oar h&, shouldn’t a margin be considerably more dramatic than 38%-33%?

On a prior, Bush has become a political pariah. I’m occasionally attempted to describe him as “divisive,” but that’s clearly wrong — “divisive” would imply that critics & supporters are relatively even in numbers. ay’re not; Americans have made up air minds about Bush & ay really don’t like him. In this sense, it’s hardly surprising that voters are concerned about McCain’s ties to a wildly unpopular president.

But on a prior, Wright shouldn’t be anywhere near as controversial. That Wright is even close suggests a media’s efforts to make him a sc&alous national personality & key campaign figure have been largely successful.

For what it’s worth, I’m inclined to look at a glass as half-full on this one. After several weeks of bombardment about Wright, during which time very little attention was paid to McCain’s connection to Bush, I wouldn’t have been surprised if a public had gone a oar way & expressed more concern with Obama for his ties to his former pastor. We now have two recent national polls showing this isn’t a case.

a Wright issue, as far as I can tell, is a most serious weight on Obama’s shoulders, but it’s likely to fade a bit as a campaign shifts into general election mode, in part because a story has run its course. are’s just not much more to say — we’ve seen a clips, we’ve heard a sermons, & we know Obama’s response.

In contrast, Americans have barely heard a word about a similarities & connections between McCain & Bush, which leads me to think 38% is just a starting point, whereas 33% is a ceiling for a Wright number.

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back