Obama's Consolidation Begins

New Washington Post poll, out tonight:

Amongst General Population:
Obama: 51%
McCain: 44%

Prefer Democrats: 53%
Prefer Republicans: 32%

Uncomfortable with 72 year old president: 39%
Uncomfortable with African American president: 12%

Amongst Democrats:
Obama: 53%
Clinton: 41%

Against either Democrat, age could be a significant obstacle for McCain. Only three in 10 said they were "entirely comfortable" with the prospect of a 72-year-old newly-elected president, about half as many as said they would be similarly comfortable with an African American or female president.

McCain romps against Obama among the 16 percent who see the country as headed in the right direction, but among the near-record 82 percent who hold a pessimistic view, Obama runs more than 20 points ahead of McCain. Similarly, about seven in 10 of those who disapprove of Bush said they would back Obama over McCain, while McCain picks up most of those who are still behind the president. The trouble for McCain is that Bush's approval has slipped to 31 percent, and has been under 50 percent for 38 consecutive months.