No Change for Kerry, Bush Favorable Ratings Post-Convention

Gallup ^ | 8/5

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August 05, 2004 No Change for Kerry, Bush Favorable Ratings Post-Convention

Edwards’, Heinz Kerry’s favorable ratings increased

by Jeffrey M. Jones

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- CNN/USA Today/Gallup's weekend poll shows that the Democratic Party's convention in Boston last week did little to change whether Americans view Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry favorably or unfavorably. However, vice presidential nominee John Edwards' favorable rating improved, as did that of the Democratic Party more generally. Teresa Heinz Kerry's favorable and unfavorable ratings both increased significantly following the convention. And while the public's views of President George W. Bush didn't change following the convention, ratings of the Republican Party showed a slight dip.

The post-convention poll, conducted July 30-Aug. 1, finds 57% of Americans with a favorable view of Kerry and 37% with an unfavorable view. Prior to the convention, 55% of the public rated Kerry favorably, with the same 37% unfavorable rating. Among likely voters, Kerry's favorable rating showed a slight drop, from 58% in the pre-convention poll to 54% in the post-convention poll.

These results suggest the convention did little to improve the public's most basic attitudes about Kerry. By comparison, 2000 Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore's favorable rating jumped from 52% to 64% following the 2000 Democratic convention, while Bush's increased from 63% to 67% after the 2000 Republican convention. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the 2004 campaign is unlike most elections, with interest in the election running at historically high levels and with most voters having made up their minds early.

Kerry's favorable rating among all Americans has been above 50% since his surprising Iowa caucus victory, which propelled him to front-runner status in the Democratic presidential nomination contest. Kerry's favorable rating reached as high as 61% this year.

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