Diageo/Hotline: Wingman Of The Hour

Earlier this week, OnCall noted the record positive numbers for Pres. Obama in the latest Diageo/Hotline poll -- among them a 16% jump in his favorable rating since the Dem convo. Similarly, VP Joe Biden's fav mark jumped 15% since the convo, an increase driven by gains across all demographics, particularly minority RVs.

Biden's overall fav/unfav is now 65%/18%, up from 50%/22% in the Diageo/Hotline survey conducted immediately after his selection as VP (8/29-31). Over the same period, his "strongly favorable" rating went from 21% to 35%.

Among hispanics, the VP's fav nearly doubled since the post-convo survey, from 37% to 72%. Over the same period, his unfav was basically static. Biden's rating among blacks of 54%/21% in Aug. has given way to an 85% fav mark today; less than 1% of African-Americans now have an unfav opinion of Biden. Among white RVs, Biden's fav figure is up 12% for a nearly 3:1 positive rating.

As in the earlier survey, Dems have a nearly unanimous fav impression of Biden. His unfav remains in the single digits at 3%, while his fav is up 17% to 85%. Among Indies, his fav is up 16% to 63%, while among GOPers it's up 9% to 39%. GOPers still hold a net negative rating of Biden, however, as his unfav remains nearly unchanged at 45%.

The most recent Diageo/Hotline, conducted 1/21-24 by FD, surveyed 800 RVs and margin of error +/- 3.5%. The earlier Diageo/Hotline survey, conducted 8/29-31, surveyed 805 RVs and has margin of error +/- 3.5%.

(MATTHEW GOTTLIEB)