Age equals ability but may not matter

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Most Americans find age equals experience among candidates but few see the issue driving their choice in November for U.S. president, a poll indicated.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll taken Thursday through Sunday finds that almost 60 percent of those interviewed thought U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was younger than his 71 years, while nearly half thought the same about 46-year-old Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Sixty percent of those interviewed also underestimated the age of 60-year-old Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., as well.

But for McCain, the poll found, age may be an indication of experience as 70 percent of those interviewed for the poll said he is the more experienced candidate.

Obama got that reaction from 46 percent of those surveyed but 22 percent of those respondents said they considered experience the deciding factor in whom they would vote for in the U.S. presidential race.

McCain would be the oldest person elected to serve as president and Obama would be the fifth youngest if either wins November's election.

There were 2,021 adults interviewed for the poll which quotes a margin of error of 2 percentage points.