GOP Support Hits 20-Year Low

Voters are poised to embrace John McCain on a personal level even though their regard for the Republican Party has plummeted to an all-time low, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll. Only 27% of the electorate have positive views of the GOP—the lowest level in the poll's 20-year history. Yet voters nevertheless identify with McCain's "background and set of values" 54% to 35%.

His support positions him in a virtual dead heat with the Democratic candidates, Democrats, meanwhile, remain evenly divided over Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the poll finds. But some 30% of Clinton voters won't vote for Obama and 22% of Obama supporters won't vote for Clinton if their rival wins the Democratic nomination, according to the poll. (More NBC/WSJ Poll stories.)