USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results (Daschle is deeply saddened)

USA TODAY ^ | 3/30/04

[kattracks]

1. How much thought have you given to the upcoming election for president -- quite a lot, or only a little?

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,001 National Adults, aged 18+, conducted March 26-28, 2004. For results based on the total sample of National Adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is

[spokeshave]

It is as it was

[GulliverSwift]

Notice that Nader takes the same amount of votes from Bush as from Nader.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Kerry gets way too much respect!

[HarryCaul]

Indeed.

I do question results that have Nader pulling evenly from Bush and Kerry, but I suppose it's so small as to not matter.

[KellyAdmirer]

They can retire that phrase "It's the economy, stupid" this year. It sure isn't the economy according to these numbers. These are the sorts of results that must wake the Kerry people up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. It's astonishing how clearly the numbers capture Kerry's bounce at the end of January, peaking in mid-February, and falling ever since.

[edeal]

This is very telling about our educational system when almost 40 percent of Americans think Bush is too conservative.

[april15Bendovr]

Who are these 9% who think Kerry is too Conservative?

[HarryCaul]

What's interesting to note is that the Dems have made definite progress in undermining Bush's support in the War on Terror, but it's dont them no good in the end. They've gained no votes from it.

[xzins]

To me, the deadly number there is in the likely voters at 51% for Pres. Bush.

It is impossible to defeat Bush at 51%.

And even the registered voters are at 49%.

I'm really surprised by this poll...especially since it was over this past weekend with all the Clarke stuff going on. Maybe those unfair attacks turned people off and pushed them toward the president.

Maybe Morris is right and when they get fed War on Terror stuff, they think about who they'd rather have in charge to protect the nation during dangerous times.

The president has defeatd Iraq and Afghanistan, Libya has rolled over, and Iran is nearly in revolt. Osama's on the run hiding in a cave someplace if he isn't a blood spot somewhere.

I'd rather have Pres. Bush protecting us. (As one guy wrote today: Bush is a man's man; Kerry is a Frenchman's man.)

[goldstategop]

The economy is picking up steam and this a nightmare for the Democrats. If its at full strength by the fall, it won't matter that Kerry gets the nod at the Democratic National Convention. It won't matter if the Democrats nominate someone else in his stead. This is the sort of news that leaves two people smiling: President Bush and Hillary Clinton.

[squidly]

What I find baffling are the percentages listed as "would vote for Kerry, but may change mind," and "would vote for Bush, but may change mind." It's not as if these two candidates are very similar, and considering that they both have lengthy records in public service (or disservice, as the case may be), what could possibly happen in the next seven months that would change who they are and what they stand for and have stood for?

I suspect that the swing votes are quite whimsical and based on shallow factors, i.e. which one looks better on TV.

[BunnySlippers]

It is interesting that Republicans are marginally "more motivated" to get to the polls this year according to the poll. Nice.

[kattracks]

I'm really surprised by this poll...especially since it was over this past weekend with all the Clarke stuff going on.

I would venture a guess that CNN/USA TODAY was also surprised.

They probably expected President Bush's #s to be in the basement after all the hit pieces that have appeared concerning Clarke.

Too bad. :o)

[maro]

Pulling evenly seems strange, but there may be a small portion of the electorate who, while liberal, will refuse to vote for Kerry. These people may be toying with the idea of a protest vote for Nader, or may be reluctant to admit to a pollster that they will vote for Bush. Polling assumes that people in the sample tell the truth, but it's clear to me that for various reasons there is a segment that lies.

[rocky88]

"I'm really surprised by this poll...especially since it was over this past weekend with all the Clarke stuff going on. Maybe those unfair attacks turned people off and pushed them toward the president. "

Last week the new TV spots started that talk about Kerry raising the gas tax and voting against funding the military, and ending with (my favorite) "I voted for the 87 billion before I voted against it" "?

I think they have sunk in quickly, Kerry has officialy become a tax-raising liberal in the eyes of the average Joe. Now President Bush needs to keep pounding that message home.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Who are these 9% who think Kerry is too Conservative?

Those would be the hard core bitter Deaniacs.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I suspect that the swing votes are quite whimsical and based on shallow factors, i.e. which one looks better on TV.

Well then all Bush needs to do is put his flight suit on and the Gals here and elsewhere will go crazy!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think they have sunk in quickly, Kerry has officialy become a tax-raising liberal in the eyes of the average Joe. Now President Bush needs to keep pounding that message home.

Cheney is handling that message:

Cheney pegs Kerry taxes at $1.7 trillion

[Finalapproach29er]

Maxine Waters & the black caucus= 9%