Kerry, Bush in statistical dead heat among Minnesota voters

The Red-Star Tribute (Star Tribune) ^ | 1/30/04 | Associated Press

[Solson]

Democratic Sen. John Kerry and President Bush are in a statistical dead heat in Minnesota, according to a new statewide poll.

Forty-three percent of Minnesota voters favored Kerry compared to 41 percent for Bush. Sixteen percent were undecided, according to the poll commissioned by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minnesota Public Radio.

[Paradox]

These polls right now dont mean diddly! They results at this point are usually the same, the incumbent not looking too good against a potential challenger. Thats because the incumbent already has had all his laundry and bad points aired out, and the challenger is a "relative" unknown.

The polls start to means something when the challenger has been definately picked, and the campaign has had some time. The Democrats have had a free-for-all against Bush, and he has yet to hit back... .

[KellyAdmirer]

As I recall, Clinton started running ads early in 1996, and it was very effective. I hope Bush does not wait too long to get some up.

[cspackler]

My opinion would be that if Bush is this close in Minesotta, that it is nothing but good news. You won't find a more liberal state out there, remember the one lone red state in '84?

[redhead]

"" ,according to the poll commissioned by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minnesota Public Radio." Public Radio ? An Honest poll ? I can't help it, the words public radio or public tv and my antenni are on point!"

Agreed. And considering the fact that they probably polled their readership/listeners, I'd say this was about as biased as anything else the Dims come up with.

What surprises me is that they were able to find so many readers/listeners.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

I think it was Paul Wellstone's Posthumous endorsement of Kerry that pushed this poll over the top. Wellstone is spearheading a huge "get out the vote" drive at the Cemetary.

[cinFLA]

Well, this isn't good for Bush in the sense that he is losing Minnesota by three points. That substantiates national polling data showing Kerry with a slight advantage, in much the same way Gore had a slight advantage in the end.

Gore/Nadar beat Bush/Buchanan by 7 points in 2000.

[republicanwizard]

Good point. Kerry won't be able to spend a nickle during the month of August, but Bush will be able to spend as much as he wants. If fact, he can raise a million a day and spend it too. With impunity.

Dare I say that August is the critical month this year? The Democrat may come out of the convention with a lead, but Bush can easily pull as many as 10 points ahead even before his acceptance speech.

[redhead]

"When you consider 95% of the news stories re:politics now are anti-Bush, I think it is incredible that he is still polling so strong vs. Kerry in the Blue states."

Considering the slant of the poll-takers, the demographics of the polled, etc., if Bush is pulling in this kind of response in places like Minnesota, he is obviously doing VERY well, indeed.

[Mamzelle]

You know, after the past month's speeches and WH initiatives, should I care one way or the other? Should I work or support W, or turn my resources instead to helping some of the conservatives working to get elected to Congress and the Senate?

I happen to know a few truckers. Today, I heard that W wants their jobs to go to "willing" Mexican drivers. And I drove enough in Mexico to get the chills thinking about big rigs corriendo en los Estados Unidos.

Except for the tax cut and the fight against terrorism, Bush has bent his will against conservatives. Do you realize that the deficit is higher in real dollars than it's ever been? That the Medicare prescrip plan will cost fully a third more than W said? And now, we are to turn our sovereignty over to Mexico.

Kerry? Should I care?

[The Great RJ]

How do you compare candidates when Kerry hasn't really said what he would do different if he were president except raise taxes. How are these people making their decision?? With Minnesota Pubic (intended pun) Radio involved they probably have tapped heavily into the hate Bush crowd who don't represent more than a minority of Minnesotans.

[Logic n' Reason]

I cannot believe that this topic holds much interest for anyone. Who the heck cares what Minnesota thinks now?? Remember: Bush has not yet even begun to campaign yet. His "warchest" grows daily. He is also being given all the opponent's arguements ahead of time - so to speak.

We all need to just sit back, read some good books, watch some quality TV (if you can find it), and wait until about mid to late summer.

I believe our Commander in Chief will then begin the offensive...and I know he'll do just fine!

Be at peace...the real war has not yet even begun. Just alot of noise from the Dems signifying absolutely nothing.

[lsmith1990]

This is very bad for Bush to be only at 41%. It suggest on election day he will lose MN by more than 10 points

[Solson]

The last GOP Presidential win in MN was in 1972. Bush in a dead heat with Kerry is a good thing. really. We have a GOP governor, house, and one Senator...all elected within the last few years.

[republicanwizard]

Well, it has given us Governor Pawlenty and Senator Coleman and four conservative congressmen.

I like Minnesota, although I wouldn't live there in a million years. Why would anyone subject themselves to such freezing weather?

[Logic n' Reason]

BTTT

[republicanwizard]

"Today, I heard that W wants their jobs to go to "willing" Mexican drivers."

If you listen and adhere to that bs, then your intellect places you in the Democratic Party.

"Bush has bent his will against conservatives."

On the partial-birth abortion ban? On the fight to privatize social security? On the fight to get conservative justices on the bench?

"Do you realize that the deficit is higher in real dollars than it's ever been?"

Do you realize that the Reagan deficits were a larger percentage of the GDP than are the Bush deficits?

[Coop]

You won't find a more liberal state out there

Sure you will. RI, MA, NY, CA, MD, CT...

'84 was 20 years ago, and Mondale was from MN.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

Kerry? Should I care?

You should if you care about the Supreme Court, abortion, affirmative action & the destruction of the country by juducial fiat.

[doc30]

And not to mention Bush'd unpopular support for illegal immigration. The base won't come out to vote!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We lived there for 16 years. Great place to live, plenty of shows, cultural events, great restaurants and nice people for the most part.
Cost of living is high. And you'd better adopt some winter sports because they certainly have plenty of winter, eh ?