Posted on 07/08/2004 2:09:15 PM PDT by marginoferror
The AP-Ipsos poll found Bush leading Kerry just outside the margin of error, with the president's support at 49 percent, Kerry at 45 percent and independent candidate Ralph Nader at 3 percent. The Bush-Kerry matchup was tied a month ago, when Nader had 6 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
AP Poll: Bush Gains Slight Lead Over Kerry
YAHOO 13 minutes ago
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer
WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) has opened a slight lead over John Kerry (news - web sites) while regaining the confidence of some voters on the economy and other domestic issues, according to an Associated Press poll with a silver lining for Democrats.
AP Photo
The addition of Sen. John Edwards (news - web sites) to Kerry's ticket appears to have helped the Democrat in the South and among low-income voters — a result the Massachusetts senator had hoped for when he selected the North Carolina populist over more seasoned politicians.
"I'm more impressed with Kerry now that he chose Edwards," said Republican voter Robin Smith, 45, a teacher from Summerville, S.C. "I look at Kerry and I don't trust him, but he's got Edwards, who's more middle-of-the-road, a strong speaker, more able to reach the common man."
The AP-Ipsos poll found Bush leading Kerry just outside the margin of error, with the president's support at 49 percent, Kerry at 45 percent and independent candidate Ralph Nader (news - web sites) at 3 percent. The Bush-Kerry matchup was tied a month ago, when Nader had 6 percent.
The three-day survey began Monday, the day before Kerry tapped Edwards as his running mate, and asked registered voters about the newly minted ticket on Tuesday and Wednesday. Half supported the Republican tandem of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) while 46 percent backed the Kerry-Edwards ticket, just within the question's margin of error.
Voters said they were feeling better about the economy and no worse about Iraq (news - web sites), a sign that Bush may be regaining his political footing just as Democrats make a high-profile push toward their nominating convention in late July.
"I want Bush in there, because the other guy is like sending a boy to do a man's job," said Glenn Foldessy, 45, of Streetsboro, Ohio, outside Cleveland. Foldessy, who usually votes Republican, said Edwards made the Democratic ticket stronger, but not strong enough.
"We have somebody now who's established and has things on track and if we destabilize this government during the war on terror, that's playing right into the hands of the terrorists," he said.
Troubling signs for the incumbent remain, however, from the number of voters who believe the country is on the wrong track (56 percent) to his anemic, but improving, job approval numbers. Bush's overall approval rating hit 50 percent for the first time since January, according to the poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs.
A month ago, the poll showed a hypothetical Kerry-Edwards ticket at 47 percent and Bush-Cheney at 44 percent, essentially a tie.
Since June, Kerry has increased his percentage of strong supporters, a sign that he has rallied his base. He also slightly strengthened his support in the South and among voters with incomes from $25,000 to $50,000, the AP-Ipsos poll found.
It was unknown what, if any, credit should go to Edwards. The self-made millionaire and former trial lawyer has talked of "two Americas," one for the privileged and another for everybody else.
Republican voter Hal Pruett, a human resources director in McMinnville, Tenn., said Edwards will help the Democratic ticket in the GOP-leaning South. "Because he's from the South, people will give them a close look," said Pruett, 56.
Of the 804 registered voters surveyed, just 49 percent said they approve of Bush's handling of the economy, but that's up a few percentage points since May.
Mary Ann Hatton, 44, a Democrat who works in a Lexington, Ky., business office, said she's finding less reason to blame Bush for the economy. "I would fault him more on the war" in Iraq, she said.
Less than half, 46 percent, approve of his handling of domestic issues such as health care, education and the environment — a slight improvement over last month.
Bush gained ground among suburban women, a key constituency that increased its backing for Bush from 41 percent in June to 52 percent.
His ratings on handling foreign policy and the war in Iraq, while low, remained steady or slightly improved. The poll was taken shortly after Iraqis gained limited control of their new government.
Bush has been buoyed by a stream of economic data pointing to an economic recovery, including a plunge in unemployment insurance applications reported Thursday by the Labor Department (news - web sites).
"The conditions for a Bush victory are all there — a strong economy, an improving position in the global war on terror and a growing sense that there are sharp and clear differences in values between the two campaigns," said top Bush adviser Karl Rove.
The economy remains a potent issue for Democrats, said Mark Mellman, a pollster for Kerry.
"We're still seeing people squeezed between prices that are rising and incomes that aren't," he said.
The poll had margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
___
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&e=4&u=/ap/20040708/ap_on_el_pr/presidential_ap_poll
What no landslide for the Johns?
HeeHee Bush will kick butt in Nov.!
What no landslide for the Johns?
HeeHee Bush will kick butt in Nov.!
positivity breeds positivity BUSH/CHENEY
negativity breeds negativity Kerry/Edwards
They just couldnt resist, could they?
John Edwards is "more middle-of-the-road"?
America needs to adopt the wideawake franchise.
You can say that again. LOL
She isn't a republican if she thinks Edwards is more middle of the road... or she has the problem that women had with clinton... all looks, no substance.
I like how if it is Kerry 46% Bush 45%, the headline reads "Kerry ahead in polls." However Bush is up by 4% and they use the word "slight"
Looks like they were right about a fifteen-point Edward's bump, its just that the direction is a little different than was advertised. :^D
Or she is not a Republican at all..
"I'm more impressed with Kerry now that he chose Edwards," said Republican voter Robin Smith, 45, a teacher from Summerville, S.C. "I look at Kerry and I don't trust him, but he's got Edwards, who's more middle-of-the-road, a strong speaker, more able to reach the common man."
Right off the bat -- A republican Teacher???? --- Yeahhh and he thinks Edwards is Middle-of-the-road --Riiighhhht
And these two OPPOSITES :
President Bush (news - web sites) has opened a slight lead over John Kerry : The AP-Ipsos poll found Bush leading Kerry just outside the margin of error,
Slight ... Just outside the margin of error .. wording to make it seem razor thin... When in reality it means BUSH LEADS! no matter what. And 4% means most likely an electoral Landslide.
And this little gem : Troubling signs for the incumbent remain, however, from the number of voters who believe the country is on the wrong track (56 percent) to his anemic, but improving, job approval numbers. Bush's overall approval rating hit 50 percent for the first time since January, according to the poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs.
ANEMIC approval of 50 Percent! Hello, AP , 50% or hiogher approval for the incumbent means he will win ..check history... 50% is not anemic!
ANd the word games continue : Half supported the Republican tandem of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) while 46 percent backed the Kerry-Edwards ticket,
Notice Bush/Cheney is half , a word, while Kerry is 46% a hard number. Even though the lead is Bush -- a number sounds better than "half". "half" means a tie -- which is what they want you to believe.
Finally the Coup de Grace :A month ago, the poll showed a hypothetical Kerry-Edwards ticket at 47 percent and Bush-Cheney at 44 percent, essentially a tie.
They try to drive home the It's was a tie, it's still a tie thought. BUT, look closely --1 Month ago Kerry/Edwards (hypothetical) where +3, now that they are the team they are -4. FORGET Bounce, dead cat or otherwise, This poll shows a LOSS of 7 points for Kerry/Edwards -- there is no bounce, what there is is a candidacy that is DOA!
This voter bases her decision on looks alone. Looks don't cut it. This country suffered 8 years worth of Clinton because of too many voters basing their vote on looks alone.
A NEGATIVE. HAAhahahaaa...
Just sent this to my friend... pointed out this is such a hit piece, but if you look carefully, it has some great stuff. Like this paragraph:
The three-day survey began Monday, the day before Kerry tapped Edwards as his running mate, and asked registered voters about the newly minted ticket on Tuesday and Wednesday. Half supported the Republican tandem of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney while 46 percent backed the Kerry-Edwards ticket, just within the question's margin of error.
They could use the number 50... that would be bigger than 46.
And this is a "Republican"? The mind boggles at the lack of knowledge and the utter stupidiy of that remark!!
What, you mean 15 points sideways? LOL!
Yeah, right, Republican voters have decided to trust Kerry because of Edwards, they also have decided this makes Kerry a moderate. And that's why Kerry has declined in the poll and is trailing Bush. Reality check tells us new Iraq government and good economy are at work.
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