Posted on 08/28/2004 1:53:17 PM PDT by ambrose
Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004
Kerry Slips Slightly as GOP Heads for NYC Poll Finds Kerry's Lead Softening
By MARK SCHULMAN
A new TIME poll finds President Bush heading into next week's Republican National Convention amid signs that his opponent's advantage is softening. Two weeks of John Kerry playing defense over his Vietnam record and relentless Republican attacks on what they characterize as his "flip-flopping" on Iraq appear to have taken a toll: President Bush now appears to be in a statistical dead-heat with Kerry in a three-way race among likely voters, with 46% backing Bush, 44% backing Kerry and 5% opting for Ralph Nader and 3% undecided. Immediately after the Democratic convention, Bush had trailed Kerry among likely voters by 48% - 43%, with Nader at 4%. Even if Nader were to drop out, a two-way race also finds Bush and Kerry neck-and-neck at 46% each.
One key indicator of Kerry's fortunes, his favorability rating, has dropped from 53% favorable - 29% unfavorable in early August to 44% favorable - 33% unfavorable today. More importantly, TIME's poll finds some fraying of Kerry's support at the edges. For example, coming out of the Boston Democratic Convention, Kerry's own supporters gave him a 91% favorability rating. That's dropped to 84% now.
The poll finds other worrisome signs for Kerry:
§ Kerry has lost his edge over Bush on who voters trust to manage the economy —previously a bedrock Kerry lead. Kerry went from a 51% - 42% lead over Bush in early August to a 46% Kerry - 43% Bush near tie today.
§ Handling the Iraq situation went from a 44% Kerry - 46% Bush tie to a Bush lead, 41% Kerry - 49% Bush. This drop may have been caused when Kerry declared recently that he would vote "yes" again for Bush's resolution authorizing war, even though no weapons of mass destruction were found.
§ Kerry lost ground to Bush on who voters trust to be commander-in-chief. Kerry and Bush tied in early August, 47% for Kerry - 45% for Bush. Bush has now opened a lead here, 42% Kerry - 50% Bush.
§ Bush has lengthened his lead over Kerry in providing strong leadership in difficult times. Bush now leads 52% - 41% for Kerry. Bush's lead in early August was 48% - 43%.
§ Independents split almost evenly now between Kerry (43%) and Bush (42%). Three weeks ago, Kerry led Bush among independents 43% - 36%.
-snip-
Can you imagine the tears at TIME when they published this ?
Did someone hear a giant sucking sound? Sounds like someone's letting the air out of Sen. Kerry's balloon.
The polls should be REALLY interesting one week from now.
heheheh.
Flip-flopping?
http://www.georgewbush.com/olympics
"We've just got to roll up our sleeves and work harder to fool the people into thinking this guy is a valid candidate. Let's roll."
"Slightly" is a Time euphemism for "Look out below!"
Kerry seems like a brittle person. I don't think he's going to handle this news well. Look for him to lash out more when campaigning. Libs will love his anger, but it'll probably be a turn-off to others.
No media bias here, right? Here is an alternative explanation. Perhaps Americans want stronger U.S. military action against the bad guys in Iraq (e.g. Fallujah, Najaf, Al Sadr and his band of losers, etc.), and see Kerry as even less likely than Bush to deliver. I know I do. Or perhaps they are more concerned that Kerry will simply cut and run -- doing the American equivalent of what the Spanish did in response to the Madrid bombing a few months ago.
At the very least, one would think that Time could have cited data from its own poll in support of its explanation, instead of just making it up in the guise of reporting hard facts.
RATs are still rats, and they don't go down with the swift boat. If they're jumping ship now, it means that they see Kerry's position as untenable. Its just a matter of time before the rest of the country catches on, so they're distancing themselves early.
I have no doubt that they'll try and cover for Kerry as long as they can, but that cover will become less solid and frequent as Kerry's viability plummets.
46% backing Bush, 44% backing Kerry and 5% opting for Ralph Nader and 3% undecided
Guess it depends on your definition of Lead or Softening, another marvelous Clinton legacy.
What should one expect of a spineless jellyfish.
Now, am I missing something, or does that headline say Kerry's LEAD softening when BUSH HAS THE LEAD?????
A 'Howard Dean' moment during, say, the debates, would be a thing of beauty. President Bush has a wicked sense of humor when he's feeling confrontational, and if he pushes the right button, Kerry's head will explode on TV.
Slightly....the commies must be drinking kool aid again!!! I'd say Kerry's numbers have dropped like a led balloon.....I'm so happy the Republicans have now pulled out their really big guns....the firing is so loud it's deafening. I Love that team of Republicans...they're so fine!!!! The RATS are a bunch of bumbling idiots. We've got the Cowboys on our team...YES!!
ROTFLMAO!!
I don't want to make the mistake of underestimating the opponent -- but it just seems to me that Kerry is going to be a terrible debater.
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