Posted on 09/04/2004 9:09:07 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Bush/Cheney Lead Kerry/Edwards 54 to 43 Percent; in a Three-Way Trial Heat, Bush/Cheney Receive 13-Point Margin Bounce
Bush Approval Rating Rises to 52 Percent; First Time Above 50 Since January; Majority (53%) Wants to See Him Re-Elected-Highest Since May 2003
27 Percent of Registered Voters Think Bush/Cheney Campaign Is Behind Swift Boat Ads
NEW YORK, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire
NEW YORK, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Immediately following the Republican National Convention in New York, the latest Newsweek Poll shows that, in a two-way presidential trial heat, the Bush/Cheney ticket would win over a Kerry/Edwards ticket by 54 percent vs. 43 percent among registered voters. In a three-way trial heat, including Green Party Candidate Ralph Nader, the Bush/Cheney ticket would still win 52 percent to 41 percent for Kerry/Edwards and 3 percent for Nader/Camejo among registered voters. That represents a 13-point margin bounce for Bush/Cheney since an August 5-10 poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International for the Pew Research Center.
And even though more Americans (49%) say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. at this time (43% are satisfied), President George W. Bush's approval rating has gone up to 52 percent, a seven-point increase since the last Newsweek Poll (July 29-30), and the first time it's topped 50 percent since January. Also 53 percent of registered voters say the would like to see President Bush re-elected to another term. The last time a majority of Americans wanted to see the president re-elected was May 2003.
In comparing the two presidential candidates, more registered voters think President Bush has strong leadership qualities than Kerry (65% vs. 47%), is more honest and ethical (62% vs. 47%), says what he believes and not just what people want to hear (66% vs. 42%), would trust him to make the right decisions during an international crisis (57% vs. 44%), shares their values (54% vs. 42%), and is personally likeable (67% vs. 59%). In addition, more registered voters think President Bush would do a better job than Sen. Kerry on various issues: terrorism and homeland security (60% vs. 32%), the situation in Iraq (55% vs. 37%), foreign policy (54% vs. 38%), taxes (52% vs. 38%), economy (49% vs. 43%), education (48% vs. 42%), and gay marriage (44% vs. 36%). More people say Sen. Kerry would do a better job than President Bush on healthcare, including Medicare (45% vs. 43%) and the environment (50% vs. 36%).
Two months before the election, more registered voters (28%) say terrorism and homeland security is the most important issue in determining their vote. Twenty-one percent say it's the economy, 13 percent say healthcare and only 11 percent say the situation in Iraq. On that subject, a majority of registered voters (55%) think that the U.S. did the right thing in talking military action in Iraq, though 50 percent say the war has not made Americans safer from terrorism (45% think it has). And, among registered voters, 44 percent think Saddam Hussein's regime was not directly involved in 9-11 (42% say it was).
Despite the four-day convention, a strong 60-percent majority of registered voters say they saw none of (32%) or very little (28%) coverage of the RNC on television last week. Only 40 percent say they saw some of it (24%) or a great deal (16%). And only 36 percent say they now have a more favorable opinion of the Republican Party, with 27 percent saying they have a less favorable opinion. Of Independents, 29 percent said they have a more favorable opinion of the Republicans and 27 percent said less favorable. Following the Democratic convention in July, 41 percent who said they had a more favorable opinion of the Democrats. Only 24 percent said they had a less favorable opinion. And of the 45 percent of registered voters who said they watched all or part of the President's speech, 37 percent said they had a more favorable opinion of him, while 18 percent said it was less favorable.
As to the presidential candidates' military service, though 75 percent of registered voters say what they've seen or heard about Bush's military service will not have much effect on their vote, and 62 percent say the same about Kerry's military service in Vietnam, 75 percent of registered voters have seen or heard about the recent TV Ads sponsored by a veterans' group questioning Kerry's military record. And 21 percent say those ads are generally accurate. Thirty-nine percent say they are misleading or distorted. Only 25 percent are not aware of those ads. Twenty-seven percent of registered voters think the Bush/Cheney campaign is behind the ads, while 38 percent think they were produced independently. (However, 26 percent of military households who have seen or heard about John Kerry's military record say they are less likely to vote for him).
Looking ahead to the next presidential campaign, a majority of registered voters (50%) said they would like to see former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani run for president in 2008 (65% of Republicans), followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain (48%, 47% of Republicans), and Arnold Schwarzenegger (22%, 30% of Republicans), if the Constitution were changed to allow foreign-born U.S. citizens to run.
This poll is part of the September 13 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, September 6). For this Newsweek Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates International interviewed 1,008 adults aged 18 and older on Sept. 2-3, 2004. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.
(Read Newsweek's news releases at http://www.Newsweek.com. Click "Pressroom" at the bottom of the page.)
Huh. I thought that number would be much higher.
So? 27% think Clinton didn't get a Lewinsky from Monica.
So what. They're true.
27%, huh? Sounds like 60% of the Rats. No surprise there.
1,000% more Americans know who Drudge is when compared to the number of Americans who know who Evan Thomas is.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!! START PLANNING FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS!!!!
The answer to that is Democrat Perty talking points. What is the basis for the Democrat Party talking points?
The thin air from which they made it up.
I think I'm going to quit my job and get into the con-man business. If 27 percent of the people are that stupid, it shouldn't take too long to make a million.
Anytime I see any type of poll regarding something political, I always expect 30% that reflects the idiots in this country, aka, moronic Democraps.
No question about Kewwy's behavior and statements in 71-72? And do these polling samples include people who have appeared in Leno's Street Walking sketches?
These are the same 20some percent of the electorate who "STRONGLY SUPPORT" Kerry... all sane and rational Americans understand someone can fight for the same things without being directed by others.
This 27% makes up Kerry's hardcore, hard left support. No surprise.
I see it as, 73% of the American people can see through all the LIBERAL media spin and Kerry hype.
So, that means they will lie and excuse him anything. Which leads to the conclusion that no one believes Kerry's ravings about Bush being behind the ads.
Remember that some of those 27% may think its a GOOD thing if the Bush campaign is behind the ads.
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