Barely half say Bush should be re-elected

MSNBC.com ^ | Jan. 14, 2004 | Alex Johnson

[Optimist]

Barely half say Bush should be re-elected

No Democrat runs close in new NBC/Journal poll
By Alex Johnson
Reporter
MSNBC
Updated:8:02p.m. ET Jan.14, 20004

Barely half of Americans say President Bush deserves to be re-elected, but they are even less enthusiastic about his Democratic challengers, any one of whom he would overwhelm if the election were held today, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll

The poll found that 42 percent believe the president does not deserve to return to office, compared with 51 percent who think he does.

The president’s assessment tracks almost exactly with public perceptions of the U.S. war in Iraq — 52 percent said the campaign to remove President Saddam Hussein from power was worth the casualties and cost, while 40 percent said it was not.

The survey asked respondents to decide which party was better placed to address a wide range of issues. In line with the president’s numbers, the Republicans’ strongest issues were homeland security and terrorism, with 47 percent and 46 percent, respectively, saying they were the stronger party. Democrats scored only 18 percent and 23 percent  on those two questions.

Democrats triumphed primarily on domestic issues, with 51 percent saying they were better placed to handle the environment, the highest score for either party on any issue. Forty-eight percent preferred the Democrats on health care, and 45 percent picked them to deal with Social Security.

The high scores did not translate into strong support for a Democratic presidency, however. Half of all those questioned — 49 percent — said they were likely to vote for Bush in November regardless of whom the Democrats nominated, compared with only 39 percent who said they were likely to choose the Democrat.

Democrats trail badly
The margins were wider across the board when Bush was put up against four leading Democrats.The poll found that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would just barely run the strongest against Bush, who would beat him by 54 percent to 37 percent. Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri all trailed by similar margins, losing to Bush by 18, 19 and 21 percentage points, respectively......

[Optimist]

MSNBC Headline: Barely half say Bush should be re-elected

MSNBC Article: former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean would just barely run the strongest against Bush, who would beat him by 54 percent to 37 percent.

MSNBC Conclusion:42 percent believe the president does not deserve to return to office, compared with 51 percent who think he does

My Analysis: (Although Clinton who was elected with about 42% was praised by the left) Bush who only wins by a 50% margin over his closest competitor with a 54-37 margin (even though only 51% think he deserves re-election) is denegrated

My Conclusion: MSNBC is showing their bias spinning a Bush supportive poll as negative for Bush but in reality a catastrophe for the Democrats

[JohnnyZ]

Barely half. Holy crap. That's more disgusting than usual.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Well, you know at least 5% of that number are the "Real Conservatives" who routinely cut off their noses to spite their faces.

[dead]

Americans never like who wins American Idol either, and they pick the winner there too!

We are a nation of morons, excluding myself.

[Mentos]

A lot of naysayers consider MSNBC to be half-retarded, but I prefer to think of them as half-coherent.

[zencat]

Should that be OVER half.

[Howlin]

They left out the part where Bush beats every single one of the Dwarves by between 17 to 21 percent.

[The South Texan]

Can somebody post the 2004 electoral vote map with all of the states red (Bush) and only Vermont blue(Dean).

[Pubbie]

My God that "Unnamed Democrat" beats the crap out of Bush - too bad he isn't running:

"The poll found that 42 percent believe the president does not deserve to return to office, compared with 51 percent who think he does."

[Optimist]

They left out the part where Bush beats every single one of the Dwarves by between 17 to 21 percent.

Bush = 54 percent
Dean = 37 percent
===============
wins by 17 percentage points
in other words 17 points above the 37 Dean gets
or about 50% more votes than Dean ----and he's the best they have

[ambrose]

Barely half of Americans say President Bush deserves to be re-elected, but they are even less enthusiastic about his Democratic challengers

[Polybius]

The poll found that 42 percent believe the president does not deserve to return to office, compared with 51 percent who think he does.

Traditionally, 51% to 42% is considered a landslide.

[dead]

Maybe Dean will run with a paper bag over his head, like The Unknown Comic.

Couldn't hurt.

[HennepinPrisoner]

Americans never like who wins American Idol either

Clay was robbed!

[the Real fifi]

Must be New Math. In the Old Math 51% is a majority.

[Howlin]

Won't help.

In December '02, Bush would have beaten a "generic candidate" by 7 percent.

Today it's up to 10 percent.

BTW, for those who love records, this "barely half" is far and above the numbers Bill Clinton had at this point in his term; better than Reagan, in fact. According to Brit Hume.

[Howlin]

By any chance, do you have the numbers Brit Hume quoted on his show last night (Tuesday)?

[Pubbie]

And remember that this poll traditionally skews left so Bush probably does even better.

The most reliable poll is Gallup which shows Bush getting 59% in a matchup with Howie.

[Az Joe]

7-8 point popular vote win, 40 states, 400 EVs = Landslide

[Howlin]

Traditionally, 51% to 42% is considered a landslide.

Factoring in errors, it could be

54 to 39 percent.