Same here. If the sampling is skewed in the other direction, I'll write it off as Newsweek manufacturing momentum for Kerry. If not, I might be concerned. But for now, I'm not worried. I doubt a single debate would trash Bush's lead so quickly, especially when the post-debate polling shows most people's minds *not* changing even though most felt Kerry won.
Newsweek Poll
First Presidential Debate
Princeton Survey Research Associates International
Final Topline Results
(10/2/04)
N = 1,013 Registered Voters
Margin of error: plus or minus 4
Interviewing dates: September 30-October 2, 2004 (interviewing on 9/30
limited to the Pacific and Mountain time zones after the presidential
debate concluded)
SAMPLE SIZE/MARGIN OF ERROR FOR TOTAL ADULTS:
1,144 Total adults (plus or minus 3)
SAMPLE SIZE/MARGIN OF ERROR FOR REGISTERED VOTERS SUBGROUPS:
1,013 Total Registered voters (plus or minus 4)
481 Men (plus or minus 5)
532 Women (plus or minus 5)
345 Republicans (plus or minus 6)
364 Democrats (plus or minus 6)
278 Independents (plus or minus 7)
SAMPLE SIZE/MARGIN OF ERROR FOR DEBATE VIEWERS SUBGROUPS:
770 Debate viewers (those who say they watched at least some of the
debate) (plus or minus 4.1)
369 Men (plus or minus 6)
401 Women (plus or minus 6)
265 Republicans (plus or minus 7)
274 Democrats (plus or minus 7)
215 Independents (plus or minus 8)
Wow, this is amazing. One debate and one poll and some of you are already helping Kerry move into the Whitehouse.
Sure, I would have loved to see the President coast back to re-election, but I am not one to fool myself. Did some of you honestly think the race wouldn't tighten this month? Did you fool yourself into thinking the Kerry campaign wasn't going to put up a fight? Do you think the Bush campaign isn't going to do everything they can to ensure re-election?
Really, some of you need to put the bong and razor blades away. This last month is going to be the toughest of Bush's political life. Stop whining! Our political enemies are reading your words. You hand-wringers embarass me. This is no time to go limp.