Posted on 08/25/2004 9:21:14 AM PDT by COURAGE
President Bush has pulled even with John Kerry in a new IBD/TIPP Poll amid charges the challenger may have oversold his four months of service in Vietnam.
In a three-way race, Bush and Kerry both would get 43% if the election were held today, according to the poll taken Aug. 17-23. Independent Ralph Nader would get 5%. In a two-way race, Bush and Kerry deadlock at 44%.
In the previous IBD/TIPP Poll, taken Aug. 2-5, shortly after the Democratic convention, Kerry led by three points in a three-way race and by six in head-to-head competition.
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"The recent controversy over Vietnam has perhaps cost Kerry some of his luster," said Raghavan Mayur, president of TIPP, a unit of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, IBD's polling partner.
Kerry, who made his Vietnam service a focal point during the convention, has come under fire from veterans' groups for allegedly distorting his war record. Those charges seem to have taken a toll on Kerry's support.
The latest anti-Kerry ads also may have had some effect. They contrast his scathing criticism of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam in testimony before a Senate committee in 1971 and his current ardent pursuit of veterans' votes.
The race in swing states also continues to be close. In late July, Kerry had a four-point lead among "battleground" voters. In the latest poll, Bush leads by a point (44% to 43%), ending Kerry's modest advantage.
Bush also continued to whittle at Kerry's lead among independents. Before the Democratic convention in July, Kerry led Bush by 22 points (52% to 30%) among this group. That was cut to seven points (43% to 36%) after the convention, and Kerry has been unable to recoup the lost ground. The latest poll puts Kerry's advantage with independents at six points (41%-35%).
With fewer than 70 days left before the election, Bush's popularity remains more intense than Kerry's. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Bush supporters say they support him "strongly" compared with 56% of Kerry supporters.
"You have to keep this in mind while you read the trial-heat numbers," said Mayur. "Despite the fact that the race is currently tied, Bush may be in a stronger position due to his stronger intensity of support. A subpar intensity can hurt voter turnout."
The IBD/TIPP Poll shows that the candidate qualities that matter most to Americans in selecting their president are "honesty and trustworthiness" (23%), "strong leadership" (21%) and "good judgment in crisis" (17%).
About one in 10 are most concerned about having a president who "understands complex issues" or "cares about people like me" (12% and 11%, respectively). Perhaps surprisingly, experience and being likable are not very high on the list (6% and 2%).
Bush is preferred among those who attach high import to honesty and trustworthiness (50% for Bush vs. 29% for Kerry) and strong leadership (64% Bush vs. 27% Kerry).
Kerry is preferred 70%-18% among those who place high importance on understanding complex issues, and empathy — "cares about people like me" (76% Kerry and 17% Bush).
Among those who think "good judgment in crisis" to be important, both Bush and Kerry are preferred equally by 45%.
Related Resources: Continue your investing education at the IBD Learning Center. For a wealth of detailed investment insights and successful investor profiles, go to The Smart Investor.
But Badeye is Independent!
Could you create a new thread with this?
This needs to be SPREAD AROUND.
O'Neill was quiet on that when I asked him about it.....but he is sending me all the affidavits, so that is cool.
It will all come down to the debates. Here is where its just Bush and Kerry on stage. This will seal it one way or the other. I'm banking on Bush to clean the floor with this guy and show him up as a snob and an opportunist. Don't worry, in the end many will hold their nose and vote Bush--even if they don't like him. If Kerry can't handle the Swift boat vets how can he handle Ben Laden and his evil crew?
Then Broken Glass Bush supporteer he'll be!
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