d. An increasingly hostile media, which gives more credit to critics than to government officials
Posted on 10/30/2004 2:33:33 PM PDT by familyop
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush's lead over Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry has widened to 6 percentage points among likely voters, according to a Newsweek magazine poll released on Saturday.
The poll showed Bush leading Kerry by 50 percent to 44 percent, and independent candidate Ralph Nader drawing 1 percent support.
That compared with a Bush lead last week over Kerry of 48 percent to 46 percent among likely voters.
The Newsweek surveys had a margin of error of 4 points, meaning the two candidates remained in a statistical dead heat days before Tuesday's election.
This week's poll surveyed 1,005 registered voters from Wednesday through Friday, and the final night's polling came after the broadcast of a new videotape in which al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden raised the prospect of fresh attacks against the United States.
The war against global terrorism has been a major issue in the campaign, and the Newsweek poll said voters trusted Bush over Kerry by 56 percent to 37 percent to tackle terrorism.
Among registered voters, Bush moved into a lead over Kerry of 48 percent to 44 percent in this week's poll, compared with a tie at 46 percent last week. The new poll also showed a strong majority expected major disputes over the voting in Tuesday's election, and it said 54 percent thought the winner would eventually be determined by the courts. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000 handed the election to Bush after a long recount dispute in Florida.
And the dems say fair elections in Iraq aren't possible!!
Saw a nice sight today - a group of 20-30 college students with Bush/Cheney signs at the intersection of Mt. Diablo and Main in Walnut Creek, CA. Turns out they are from UC Berkeley (?!?!?) and one of them said their group has over 500 members! I thanked them for coming out to the suburbs and fighting the good fight. They were getting a lot of positive responses from drivers and pedestrians - a few liberals rolled their eyes but I didn't see any confrontations. I guess Kerry supporters just don't have any passion for their man. ;)
"Were the polls neck and neck right up to election day?"
Same as yours, with the media reporting over and over that it was going to be close...
bump
Polls have consistently under sampled GOP voters.
I think the 6% total is finally accurate.
I expect a final 10-15% lead with Democrats and Independents choosing Bush.
Is that why Cronkite said Rove was behind the tape, because it is helping Kerry?
Any reminding of people of 9/11 is going to help Bush.
Do you think that on Nov. 3, there will still be unusued political ammunition on the table of President Bush?
If it's 50-44, and the margin of error is 4, how is it a statistical dead heat?
Yes, taking it out of the hands of the corrupt Florida Supreme court
Republican timidity in campaign tactics is and will continue to be a problem.
Oh, yea, one of my favorite topics: "Republican timidity." Let's see, we had Herbert Hoover, Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie, Thomas E. Dewey, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, GHWB. It is a pretty long list.
The bolder candidates tended to have better success at the polls: Eisenhower, Reagan. Of course, Goldwater could be in the "bold" camp, but he frightened people and was never taken seriously.
I just hate seeing the GOP leave unusued ammunition on the floor.
Nice of you to post and remind us of your election in Australia, adds a bit of hope. Enjoy knowing an Australian likes this post. Also love the Australians!!
Husband retired from airlines, he met a lot of Australians out at the Boeing Plant in Seattle when he was being taught the B-767, then B-757 to teach. Had lots of good times with the Australian Crews, and beer parties!
They would trade times who would buy the beer, and when it was the Australians time, and beer ran out, they would never let anyone else pay for it.
Well, got any constructive suggestions? Or do you just want to mope and gripe?
1. Don't underestimate the shock of a terror attack. "The nation has recovered just enough that a successful terror strike would be psychologically devastating."
2.The oppostion party undermined the prime minister, "constantly questioning his honesty and alleging that he was using the tragedy for partisan advantage." The Spanish prime minister's failure to forcefully respond to the criticism gave credibility to his opponents' allegations. "It is not hard to imagine the often tongue-tied Bush White House making the same errors.
3. The Spanish government had good reason to suspect the E.T.A. When it became obvious it was an al Qaeda attack, the opposition howled about "lies" coming from the government.
4. Prime minister Aznar called on the people to march on March 12, in solidarity with the victims and for the defeat of terrorism. More than 11 million people, out of a nation of 42 million, took to the streets to condemn terrorism. The Socialist Party activists, however, found an opportunity to divide the nation. Well organized anti-war groups shouted at the nation's leaders during the march.
5. The Socialist party spread rumors, while their candidate remained above the fray, "a classic two-sided political strategy."
6. Socialist Party activists staged mass rallies across Spain on March 13, the day before the election. The day before an election is supposed to be a day of reflection, without campaigning. When the conservative candidate pointed out the illegality of the increasingly violent demonstrations, HE was criticized for campaigning during the quiet period.
7. Miniter contends it was the Michael Moore-style campaign of the Socialist Party that determined the election.
8. The Socialists attacked every government announcement, while accusing the government of lying and covering up.
9. The March 12 anti-terror demonstration brought more than 1/4 of the electorate out into the streets, and significantly increased voter turnout, which helped the Socialist Party.
10. Supporters of minority candidates used "tactical voting," as would occur here if a Nader voter voted for Kerry instead.
11. It's plausible that if there is a terror attack in the U.S. before the election, it would be blamed on the president for not preventing it. The democrats would demand an investigation and criticize it constantly.
12. If there is another attack here, it will be another Madrid, with the opposition mobilizing rapidly and using the same techniques:
a. Mass demonstrations led by radicals
b. Constant allegations of government "lies" c. Skepticism of "slow" release of information from the government
d. An increasingly hostile media, which gives more credit to critics than to government officials
e. A Barrage of personal attacks on the leader
f. Questions about "intelligence failures"
g. A cynical attempt to hijack the grief of victims and survivors.
Miniter sees these tactics as typical of the left-wing dominated "antiwar" movement that emerged simultaneously in all Western countries following the liberation of Iraq. They appear to be shifting from opposing the occupation of Iraq to opposing the War on Terror.
d. An increasingly hostile media, which gives more credit to critics than to government officials
What anuisanceFOOL ! .....
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