Poll: Jeb Bush gaining in popularity in FL [NEW MASON-DIXON FL POLL RESULTS]

The Tallahassee Democrat, via Jeb's campaign site at www.jeb.org ^ | Jan. 31, 2002 | Bill Cotterell

[summer]

Gov. Jeb Bush gaining in popularity in FL.

Poll: Gov. Bush gains popularity

By Bill Cotterell

Gov. Jeb Bush's popularity is on the rise, a new survey of Florida voters indicated Wednesday.

The Mason-Dixon Florida Poll also showed a huge leap in President Bush's support, a year after the hotly disputed Florida election that put him in the White House. Some of the president's popularity since Sept. 11 may have rubbed off on his younger brother - who posted a sharp gain among Democrats, especially blacks who shunned the governor early in his term.

The survey of 625 registered voters, which has an error margin of 4 percent, also indicated strong opposition to the tax-reform plan advanced by Senate President John McKay, R-Bradenton. And despite national news reports of death row prisoners being freed by new evidence, the Mason-Dixon Poll showed continued strong support of capital punishment.

"I suspect that all of this bodes very well for Jeb Bush," said Brad Coker, director of the poll. "The improvement of his numbers among independents, Democrats and blacks indicates that he's gaining strength in what are typically swing voters in Florida elections."

The poll, conducted for the Tallahassee Democrat and other Florida newspapers and broadcasters, showed the governor's overall job-approval rating at 58 percent - up six points from a similar survey in July. The poll showed 35 percent of black voters rating his performance "excellent" or "good," compared with 27 percent six months earlier.

Statewide, 80 percent of voters gave President Bush's performance high marks. That's an increase from 52 percent last February, a month after he took office.

Florida Democratic Party chairman Bob Poe of Orlando said he was not worried about the Bush brothers' popularity gains.

"The campaign hasn't begun yet, and we haven't laid out our case," Poe said. "Jeb always takes credit for the sunshine, never the cloudy days; as much as he does that, his popularity ought to be up in the 70-percent range."

Bush worked hard in black precincts in 1998 and scored better than most Republicans, getting about 12 percent of the vote in some areas, but his minority support took a hit in 1999 when he announced his "One Florida" policies to supplant affirmative action in state contracting and university admissions. His brother's cliffhanger presidential election left many blacks feeling disenfranchised, and Democrats blamed the governor.

"Bush continues to get a more mixed rating among black voters, but his numbers continue to improve," Coker wrote of the governor's standing. In addition to a 35-percent approval rating among blacks, he said, the number of blacks rating his performance as "poor" declined by almost 30 percent since the 2000 post-election fight.

Voters had mixed feelings toward Bush's "A-plus" education policies, which grade schools and give financial rewards to those with rising student achievement. The plan includes a voucher system for parents to transfer students out of failing schools.

Mason-Dixon results showed that 49 percent of voters did not think Bush's plan had improved public education but that 44 percent thought it will have a positive long-term effect. Only 17 percent thought it would harm education, and 27 percent said it would have no effect.

"Support for the death penalty has increased in Florida," Coker wrote, citing a 70-percent overall endorsement by voters. That's up from 63 percent in April 1998, before the state switched from electrocution to lethal injection.

Coker said the poll numbers looked dismal for McKay's plan to lower the sales tax from 6 percent to 4.5 percent and eliminate a wide range of exemptions. Only 39 percent of the voters statewide liked the idea, while 48 percent were opposed.

Bush's press secretary, Elizabeth Hirst, said the poll numbers indicate that most Floridians agree with her boss on education, economic development and other major issues.

"Governor Bush is driven by the policies he believes will serve the best interests of Floridians, not by poll numbers," she said. "But it does appear by these latest numbers that the majority of citizens in our state agree with the direction the governor is leading our state."

[summer]

This is great news. And, Dem leaders must be having a fit.

If you would like more information about Gov. Jeb Bush's official campaign, click here to go to www.jeb.org.

[summer]

Bumping for index.

[vbmoneyspender]

I guess this puts the lie to the position advanced by Toe-Sucker Morris last night on Hannity & Colmes that GWB doesn't have coattails.

[concerned about politics]

CNN BREAKING NEWS....Bush wants to change the name "fetus" to "unborn children" for insurance reasons. .....developing

[summer]

I really don't think your post relates to the topic here.

[summer]

FYI -- and, a link to the original article is here:

Tallahassee Democrat -- Poll: Jeb Bush Gaining in Popularity

[Texaggie79]

And Reno's numbers are "collapsing".

[concerned about politics]

I really don't think your post relates to the topic here.

No, but the liberals are cheering the Republican distruction because of this. I just can't post the story yet. Sorry.
Got carried away.

[caltrop]

Bush has been quoted as saying that, when former Governor Bob Martinez proposed something similar to Senator McKay's plan, that he opposed it in private discussions with Martinez when Bush served as Martinez' Commerce Secretary. Maybe the poll results on the popularity of the proposed tax changes will help him remember his earlier position on the subject. Thus far his opposition to McKay's plan is, shall we say, muted.

[dalebert]

Bump

[summer]

Actually, I read news reports after his state of the state address which clearly indicated Gov. Bush was not gun-ho on McKay's plan, as per remarks made by the governor in his speech.

[Texbob]

That is why Baby Killer Janet Reno fainted during a political speach last night.

[1L]

And Reno's numbers are "collapsing".

She didn't have any numbers to begin with.

[summer]

Re your post #7 -- I think you're right.

[Argus]

Shot on the news last night just showed her feet sticking out from under the podium, like that witch in the Wizard of Oz after Dorothy's house fell on her. I thought Reno's toes were going to curl up right there on live TV.

[Dog Gone]

The improvement of his numbers among independents, Democrats and blacks indicates that he's gaining strength in what are typically swing voters in Florida elections.

Two out of the three he mentioned are NOT typically swing voters. This represents support coming from what I'd call core Democrats.

Bad news for Jeb's opponents...

[summer]

I noticed that too -- VERY bad news for Dems.

[summer]

FYI. :)!

[MeekOneGOP]

Things are looking "UP" for the Bush Brothers!
I might just have to go to the beer store and buy me some "Busch" beer to celebrate! :o)

[summer]

A fall for a woman of her age could be quite serious if she breaks any bones that are weak or brittle to begin with.

This poll news about Gov. Bush -- and the photo of Ms. Reno below -- seems to sum up this entire race here in FL


Janet Reno collapsing.