Posted on 08/26/2004 12:42:13 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Poll: Kerry loses ground with voters
By WILL LESTER ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Democrat John Kerry has lost ground with voters in their perceptions of his honesty, leadership skills and Vietnam experience during the heated debate over his war record as a swiftboat commander, a poll found.
Ads paid for by a group called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have questioned Kerry's Vietnam service and claim he lied about his actions while piloting a swiftboat on a Vietnam river in the late 1960s. The Kerry campaign has rebutted the claims with Navy documents and other veteran accounts, and Kerry has accused President Bush of being behind the ads paid for by an independent group. Bush has denied that charge.
A month ago, Kerry and President Bush were tied on the question of who has the honesty and integrity to serve as president. Bush now has an advantage on that question, 46 percent to 39 percent, according to a Los Angeles Times poll released Thursday.<
The number of people who feel that in his Vietnam combat missions, Kerry demonstrated qualities America needs in a president has dropped from 58 percent in June to 48 percent now, according to the Times poll.
The poll found Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney with a slight lead, backed by 47 percent to 44 percent for Kerry and running mate John Edwards and 3 percent for independents Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo. The head-to-head matchup has shown very little change with Bush and Kerry tied in July. Other polls released Thursday also found the race very close with Bush-Cheney at 48 percent, Kerry-Edwards at 46 percent and Nader-Camejo at 4 percent in a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll.
A Battleground Poll, sponsored by George Washington University, found Kerry-Edwards backed by 48 percent, Bush-Cheney backed by 47 percent and Nader-Camejo backed by 3 percent. While the debate over Kerry's Vietnam record appears to have eroded some of his gains on character qualities when compared with Bush, several polls show the race remains very close.
Voters are so deadlocked on their choice for president that the campaigns will need to focus on keeping the intensity of support high and turning them out on Election Day, according to pollsters Ed Goeas, a Republican, and Celinda Lake, a Democrat, who conducted the Battleground survey. That poll found Kerry has solidified support among key groups, like blacks and union voters.
Here are details on the polls' methods:
-The bipartisan Battleground poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Aug. 15-17 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
-The Los Angeles Times poll of 1,352 registered voters was conducted Aug. 21-24 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
-The CNN-USA Today poll 709 likely voters was taken Aug. 23-25 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Ahhh, the first signs of a resounding victory and panic in the Kerry camp. But I'm really curious as to what stunt Max Cleland will pull next???
Do I smell toast?
So if the polling numbers are about the same or slightly worse for Kerry, that means he's lost support among other key groups.
Hmmmm, wonder what groups they could be?
Yes...and I also smell chicken from the way they're going nonlinear on the Swiftboat Vets. ; )
Bacon
Did someone say CHICKEN???
Lurch Grammsci Botox, bend over and kiss yer clymer boodbye!
Sounds like Bush lost ground in the Gallup poll, but is gaining in all other polls.
notice the dates on the Battleground Poll. Aug 17 to 18. Its over a week old, I bet the numbers are even better for Bush now.
That's the first I've seen of the Gallup numbers. 48 Bush 46 Kerry is actually an improvement for Kerry of 4 points.
LOL!! sounds like W haves some good mo-mentum going into the convention
I am particularly enjoying this:
KERRY CHALLENGES BUSH TO WEEKLY DEBATES: In Anoka, MN, John Kerry challenged President Bush to weekly debates on the issues.
BUSH CAMP REAX: "There will be a time for debates after
the convention, and during the next few weeks, John Kerry
should take the time to finish the debates with himself.
This election presents a clear choice to the American
people between a President who is moving America forward
and a Senator who has taken every side of almost every
issue and has the most out of the mainstream record in the
U.S. Senate," said BC'04 spokesman Steve Schmidt.
Well, he's denied them.
Rebutted? I don't think so...
thanks for my laff of the day!!!
Depends on the internals and partisan weighing. The most important breakdown to measure trends, IMHO, is the independents. We'll have to see those later as these articles doesn't include the breakdowns.
"Max Cleland will pull next???"
Kerry will roll him on stage in a wheelbarrow.
Cleland will be carrying the footballs onstage and they will proceed to toss a few.
Kerry will then kiss him, on the mouth lovingly.
He then proceeded to tap dance while singing the Ava Maria.
Of course Kerry figures that will get him the vetran vote, the gay vote, the black vote and the catholics.
SWEEEEETT! I love the part about Kerry debating with himself. WTG Bush'04 team.
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