Clark’s Fast Start [Clark D frontrunner; GWB 51% Approval]

Newsweek ^ | September 20, 2003 | Laura Fording

[AntiGuv]

In a new Newsweek poll, the general takes an early lead among Democrats while Bush’s ratings continue to slide

Sept. 20 — Retired Gen. Wesley Clark may have only entered the presidential race on Thursday, but he is already the Democratic frontrunner, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll.

CLARK WON SUPPORT from 14 percent registered Democrats and democratic leaners, outpacing former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (12 percent), Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (12 percent), Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (10 percent) and Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt (8 percent).

Meanwhile, as Americans focus on the fiscal realities of creating a stable Iraq, President George W. Bush’s approval ratings continue to slide, the poll shows. The president’s approval rating now stands at 51 percent, down 1 point from last week’s poll and from 65 percent on May 1, when major hostilities in Iraq ended.

[x1stcav]

If this perfumed prince has suddenly jumped into the demonrat lead, the poor souls are more lost than I had previously figured.

[jwfiv]

Newsweek is weak news and robust fantasy...that rag's been carrying Clinton's water for 12 years now...they're a DNC organ.

[Lexington Green]

... But then again, NEWSWEAK is just a DNC propaganda asset.... hardly a reliable source

[Sparta]

I'm about to set up an anti-Wesley Clark website called www.StopWesleyClark.us. I've already checked into the prices for it and I think I will try and set it up within the next couple of weeks.

[OldFriend]

Suddenly 1% which is well within the margin of error is considered a SLIDE!

[Dog]

Ahhhhh the weekly Newsweek of Vush's falling poll numbers to be cited on the Sunday Shows..

[Dog]

BUSH......sheesh!

[chiller]

What does it say when a candidate who is virtually unknown beats all those that are known. BWAHAAAHAAAHAAA

[Uncle Hal]

Folks, if the Clintoms really want Clark to be the nominee, then he will be the nominee. They control the dem. party. Remember if Hillary is not running in 04 then the Dems have to loose to Bush so that Hillary will have a clear shot in 08. I would not trust the Clintons as far as I could throw Hillary.

[Conservative til I die]

Wow! 14%! He's really lighting the world on fire!!!!!

[Kevin Curry]

The president’s approval rating now stands at 51 percent, down 1 point from last week’s poll . . .,

Yessir, a DRAMATIC skid . . . a DEEP, BREATHTAKING plunge, . . . not even out of the poll's margin of error.

Newsweek: tabloid of choice for jerks and liberals.

[AntiGuv]

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Sept. 18-19, 2003. N=855 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4 (total sample).
						.
"Suppose the next general election for president were being held TODAY and you had to choose between George W. Bush, the Republican, and [see below], the Democrat -- who would you vote for?" If "Other" or "Undecided": "As of TODAY, do you LEAN more toward Bush, the Republican, or [see below], the Democrat?"
						.
		George W. Bush	Wesley Clark	Other (vol.)/ Undecided
		%	%	%
	ALL	47	43	10
	Men	52	41	7
	Women	42	45	13
	Republicans	82	11	7
	Democrats	17	76	7
	Independents	42	44	14
	South	45	47	8
	Non-South	47	41	12
						.
		George W. Bush	Howard Dean	Other (vol.)/ Undecided
		%	%	%
	9/18-19/03	52	38	10
	9/11-12/03	53	37	10
	7/03	53	38	9
						.
		George W. Bush	John Kerry	Other (vol.)/ Undecided
		%	%	%
	9/18-19/03	48	43	9
	7/03	50	42	8
						.
		George W. Bush	Al Gore	Other (vol.)/ Undecided
		%	%	%
	9/18-19/03	48	45	7
	11/02	54	39	7
	10/02	58	36	6
	9/02	58	36	6
						.
		George W. Bush	Hillary Clinton	Other (vol.)/ Undecided
		%	%	%
	9/18-19/03	50	43	7
	9/11-12/03	51	41	8
	11/02	55	40	5
	10/02	58	38	4
						.
"In general, would you like to see George W. Bush reelected to another term as president, or not?"
		Yes	No	Don't Know
		%	%	%
	9/18-19/03	44	50	6
	8/21-22/03	44	49	7
	7/24-25/03	49	43	8
	7/10-11/03	47	46	7
	5/1-2/03	51	38	11
	4/10-11/03	52	38	10
	11/02	49	42	9

[AntiGuv]

I'm especially skeptical of those numbers from the South. Clark leading Bush 47-45%?! I doubt it..

[jwalsh07]

In New Hampshire, Clark is running at 2% in the dem primary polling. In other words nobody knows who the hell he is. PSRA is historically inaccurate. Unlike Zogby they never stop push polling to establish credibility by doing an hones poll before an election.

The numbers from the south are simply not believable, not by any stretch of the imagination. The only explanation is their sample. In the past, they have been extremely reticent to supply their sampling data. The answer is in there.

It's easy to show a win for Clark or any dim in the south when you poll 50 dems, 25 indies and 25 pubbies. Unfortunately for PSRA that's not the profile of those who vote.

[Stultis]

Hehehehe. The more the media builds them up, the harder they fall!

I could be wrong, and team Bush certainly needs to be ready for Clark if he really does catch on, but I continue to suspect that the American public is going to be genuinely creeped out by this one as soon as he gets sufficient exposure.

[jwalsh07]

Remove Tommy Chong joke.

[Young Rhino]

I'd be impress if (1) it was likely voters instead of registered voters, and (2) it wasn't a Dimwit magazine spewing propaganda.

[Stultis]

BTW, did anyone who saw Clark's announcement rally earlier this week pick up on the music? The stuff they played when he came to the podium was a really odd choice. It sounded like some kind of movie music, almost incidental music. There was a theme, but very subdued and kinda uncertain almost. (Maybe that is appropriate for Clark!) It sounded a bit John Williamsish, but not stirring like his stuff usually is. Anyone know what it was.

The song played after his speech was hillarious, in a really pathetic way. It was a very "square" whitebread, folksey rendition of the commie fav, "This Land is My Land." The thing that really floored me was that it sounded like Harry Belafonte was singing the male lead. Can anyone confirm this? Could Wesley's handlers have really been so stupid (or devious?) as to use and outspoken America-hating commie symp for campaign music?

[DeFault User]

What does it say when a candidate who is virtually unknown beats all those that are known. BWAHAAAHAAAHAAA

The average Dim "thinks" Clark can't be as bad as the rest of the dwarfs. "thinks" = feels (obviously no thinnin' going on here, BabaLoooie)