Posted on 10/11/2004 7:48:38 AM PDT by nckerr
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) expanded his slight lead over President Bush (news - web sites) to three points in a tight race for the White House, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Monday.
The Massachusetts senator held a 47-44 percent lead over Bush in the latest three-day tracking poll, up two points from Sunday. Bush's support dropped one point and Kerry's support rose one point in the new poll.
The close race turns up the pressure for Wednesday's final debate in Tempe, Arizona, when the White House rivals will have another chance to make their case to voters on domestic issues.
The poll found six percent of likely voters are still undecided about the race with barely more than three weeks to go until the Nov. 2 election, and 16 percent of the voters who identify themselves as independents are undecided.
Bush made small gains among young voters and Kerry picked up strength among women voters ahead of the debate -- the final chance for both candidates to speak directly to an audience of millions of voters.
"Wednesday's debate is vital because many sub-groups remain close and because so many independents have yet to make up their minds," pollster John Zogby said.
The poll of 1,214 likely voters was taken Friday through Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The rolling poll will continue through Nov. 1 -- the day before the election.
The last two days of polling came after Bush and Kerry battered each other over Iraq (news - web sites), jobs and taxes during a debate on Friday. The economy and Iraq are consistently listed as the top issues in the race.
A tracking poll combines the results of three consecutive nights of polling, then drops the first night's results each time a new night is added. It allows pollsters to record shifts in voter sentiment as they happen.
The poll found 48 percent of voters thought the United States was headed in the wrong direction and 45 percent thought it was headed in the right direction.
It also showed independent candidate Ralph Nader (news - web sites), blamed by some Democrats for drawing enough votes from Al Gore (news - web sites) to cost him the election in 2000, earning the support of 1.7 percent of likely voters.
The Electoral College polls have given President Bush the edge from the beginning. Bush 297 Kerry 236 The race isn't over. Get out the vote!
That is completely true. His interactive polling isn't so great. If he was correct we should have Gov. Bill McBride in Fla, a dem majority in the Senate, and 6-8 dem pick ups in the House. Not one! NOT ONE! of this slimy Arabist's predictions and studies held water. Zogby's reputation is greatly been overblown because of the telephone poll he took after Bush's DUI revelation in the 2000 election. I think Zogby's numbers have been skewed by the DNC just like the online polls taken after the debates. My view on these results is highly skeptical since it is an outlier from the other firms Gallup, Wash Post, ABC etc. which show 4-6% Bush lead. Look for Bush lead to grow as post 2nd debate results come in.
That is a lie. There was no hidden mic. The question is: Did Kerry use his cheat sheets? This hypocritical one sided stuff needs to end and people supporting this should be ashamed.
Indeed we will.
As I said, I hope you're right, and I think Bush will win. But 400 electoral votes? C'mon. Which of the following states do you think Bush will win: California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Vermont, DC? Because if Kerry wins all of them, which seems all-but-certain to me, Bush will win fewer than 400 electoral votes.
The odds on Bush getting 400 electoral votes or more are running 19:1 against at Tradesports. If you really believe what you're saying, you have the opportunity to make some serious money.
Good!
Be afraid, very afraid, because I have always said that Zogby calculates the voter fraud into his numbers.
I am scared. Zogby has been right too many times. It is clear that Bush's lead has drastically lessened. The American People have lost their minds. If Kerry does win, conservatives should become peaceniks. Let down our military and intelligence guard. Whenever the terrorists strike, we should urge caution and negotiation. After a couple of million deaths, Americans might wake up. If not, they should suffer the consequences of voting for Kerry.
We're all a bit "scared", but not just because of Zogby. The entire mainstream media pimping for liberals is the problem. Re-electing W is the solution. Get out the vote!
Zogby right too many times! Review his stellar 2002 results 0-3!!
Odd a three point difference is a lead and not a tie...let me nuance that.
There is a completely different demographic to the folks who seek out a poll versus one's where the poll seeks them.
No doubt. This poll is a useless exercise of numbers.
In order to take the poll a number of things must happen.
1. You must have access to a computer.
2. You must have internet access
3. You must know how to use the internet.
4. You must somehow wind-up at Zogby's website.
5. You must then want to take the poll.
I will bet you that people who do all 5 are hold a very similar demographics.
Go to Real Clear Politics and see how they have all the polls averaged. Bush leads in most of them. I think Zogby's results are DNC Sy-ops.
I am scared. Zogby has been right too many times.
Scrappleface said the bulge wasn't recognized by the dims because it was something they are unfamiliar with ... a spine
Then there's the Democrats (not to be confused with 'liberals') who are fed up with their Party's sharp leftward turn, (see popular vote for Clinton). These folks are akin to the 'Reagan-Democrats' of the 80s.
They too, live in every state of the union.
I am hearing people here in Virginia, who previously were apathetic at best about politics and/or voting, tell me positive things about Dubya. I'm hearing people who haven't bothered to vote for a while getting registered so they can give our President their nod of approval on 11-2.
I honestly don't think I'm being overconfident, nor am I deluded.
Dubya will see 400 Electoral College votes.
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