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Barely half say Bush should be re-elected
MSNBC.com ^ | Jan. 14, 2004 | Alex Johnson

Posted on 01/14/2004 8:47:16 PM PST by 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......

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; bush; msnbc; poll; polls; reelect
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To: Howlin
Factoring in errors, it could be 54 to 39 percent.

And I could be the happiest person on the face of the earth.

21 posted on 01/14/2004 9:17:46 PM PST by Howlin
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To: Optimist
Methinks MSNBC's been into the barley a bit too much.
22 posted on 01/14/2004 9:20:37 PM PST by auboy (If you totally agree with me, you must be nuts.)
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To: Howlin
And I could be the happiest person on the face of the earth.

NOPE...You're gonna have to fight for that one.

23 posted on 01/14/2004 9:25:34 PM PST by Krodg
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To: Krodg

24 posted on 01/14/2004 9:28:19 PM PST by Howlin
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To: Optimist
The anti-American, anti-presidential rhetoric has been incessant lately. The Liberals are trying their hardest to defeat us and they may win. I don't but the "we got it in the bag" theory. We need NOT to forget that we need good PR. Grassroots PR. And lots of it.
25 posted on 01/14/2004 9:29:18 PM PST by Dec31,1999
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To: Dec31,1999
I mean "buy"
26 posted on 01/14/2004 9:30:18 PM PST by Dec31,1999
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To: Optimist
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



Oh yeah. The land grab! You pay for the land, and they tax the cr@p out of it AFTER they tell you what you CAN'T do with the land you paid for!
27 posted on 01/14/2004 9:39:42 PM PST by Just Lori
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To: Howlin
Just what kind of a Freeper do you think I am???
28 posted on 01/14/2004 10:01:53 PM PST by Krodg
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To: Optimist; Howlin
Here's the hilarious thing: if the Democrats managed to knock down President Bush's national popularity to 48%, he'd win his re-election in 2004 by at least 18 electoral votes by simply carrying the same states in '04 that he won back in 2000 with 48% popularity.

If they knock him down to 49%, Bush wins 5 additional states (e.g. Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Oregon).

If they can only knock him down to 50% national popularity, then he carries either New York or California. 51% and he carries both.

Right now, he's up at 60% in most national polls (52% in this one for this thread).

And the economy has turned around.

And Saddam Hussein has been captured.

And Bush has yet to spend his record breaking campaign war chest.

So you have to admit, it is truly, deeply fun to watch the liberals bash their heads desperately against their own walls as they try to knock down someone who is going to win no matter what.

29 posted on 01/14/2004 10:12:08 PM PST by Southack (Media bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: Optimist
They hate it when a majority speaks with one voice. It's just awful. People should have to check with them as to whom to vote for first.
30 posted on 01/14/2004 10:15:59 PM PST by kingu (Remember: Politicians and members of the press are going to read what you write today.)
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To: Spanaway Lori
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

Ok, let's see if I get this: 51% for the Dums is a triumph, but 51% for the President is a disaster?

31 posted on 01/14/2004 10:18:14 PM PST by Mygirlsmom (This MESS is a PLACE!)
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To: The South Texan
Can somebody post the 2004 electoral vote map with all of the states red (Bush) and only Vermont blue(Dean).

Here ya go...

32 posted on 01/14/2004 10:21:23 PM PST by RandallFlagg ("There are worse things than crucifixion...There are teeth.")
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To: 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.

Well, that's a result of "Real Smart Politicians" who routinely cut off their constitutents to...

Hey, why do they do that?


33 posted on 01/14/2004 10:27:38 PM PST by Sabertooth (Eighteen solutions better than any Amnesty - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1053318/posts)
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To: Howlin
They left out the part where Bush beats every single one of the Dwarves by between 17 to 21 percent.

A lesser of two evils win, what an accomplishment, what a legacy!

He's sold us out w/ 15b for African Dictators, CFR, Education, Socialized Medications, etc., etc., and now he wants Amnesty for Illegals.

Hopefully he'll be a lame duck all four years so he won't be able to do any more damage.


34 posted on 01/15/2004 3:02:53 AM PST by putupon (Thirty silver pesos for Judas Bush.)
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To: Optimist
The poll found that 42 percent believe the president does not deserve to return to office, compared with 51 percent who think he does.

In the English language this is called a LANDSLIDE LOL

35 posted on 01/15/2004 5:11:57 AM PST by alisasny (Thankyou to all who made 12/28 party so wonderful in NYC)
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To: putupon
Hopefully he'll be a lame duck all four years so he won't be able to do any more damage.

In your dreams.

36 posted on 01/15/2004 7:00:00 AM PST by Howlin
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