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......

[Howlin]

Factoring in errors, it could be 54 to 39 percent.

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

[auboy]

Methinks MSNBC's been into the barley a bit too much.

[Krodg]

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

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

[Howlin]

[Dec31,1999]

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.

[Dec31,1999]

I mean "buy"

[Just 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



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!

[Krodg]

Just what kind of a Freeper do you think I am???

[Southack]

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.

[kingu]

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.

[Mygirlsmom]

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?

[RandallFlagg]

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

Here ya go...

[Sabertooth]

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?

[putupon]

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.

[alisasny]

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

[Howlin]

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

In your dreams.