Posted on 10/31/2004 5:58:24 AM PST by Mike Fieschko
Just days before the presidential election, the final Star-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers Poll found a tightening race in New Jersey as voters continued to worry about the threat of terrorism.The latest poll shows Democratic Sen. John Kerry with a 45 percent to 41 percent lead over Republican President George W. Bush, with 12 percent still undecided and other candidates taking 2 percent of the vote.
The survey of 740 likely voters was taken Wednesday through Friday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percent. Two weeks ago, the poll found Kerry with a 51 percent to 38 percent advantage among likely voters.
Acting poll director Patrick Murray said the president's visit to South Jersey on Oct. 18, combined with his emphasis in recent days on the issue of terrorism, appears to be striking a chord with New Jersey voters, particularly independents and South Jersey residents.
Polls taken by Star-Ledger/Rutgers-Eagleton and other groups since mid-summer have shown voters struggling to make up their minds. They showed a big Kerry lead just after the Democratic National Convention, a near-tie after the Republican National Convention, a wider lead for Kerry after the three debates and now Bush narrowing the gap again in the campaign's waning days.
[snip]
The number of undecided voters this late in the game is higher than expected, Murray said, even increasing slightly since the last poll. He said many of those voters have strong misgivings about Bush but still are not sold on Kerry:
[snip]
The latest survey found Bush, by a 78 percent to 16 percent margin, is considered the preferred candidate to handle the fight against terrorism, which voters said is the campaign's top issue. The incumbent, by a 57 percent to 33 percent margin, also is viewed as the stronger, more decisive leader.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Winning NJ would be cool, but that is a long shot.
Winning NJ would wrap up the post-election analysis by 8PM EST. :)
It is a good fantasy, but not more than that.
Not with New Jersey Democrats it isn't. They all want their percentages.
Some people don't pay attention, think Bush will win anyway, so they vote for Kerry out of tradition.
9/11 WAS NEVER REPEATED--THANKS TO PRESIDENT BUSH!This is one thing that Kerry and his henchpersons in the "Mainstream Newsmedia" can not refute, no matter how full of passionate intensity their propaganda may be.
I doubt Bush will win NJ, but he seems to be up a bit in Ohio, now tied with Kerry. If Bush can take OH and Florida he wins early.
GW really hurt himself in the debates, especially the first one. Mighta cost him here in NJ, where folks aren't used to voting GOP. Kerry is a big fat liar, but ppl are swayed by superficiality, which of course is Kerry's strong suit.
If Kerry ends up ahead only 4 in NJ on election night then I think it means Mr Bush's overall national vote will be quite strong.
It is just as bad as a Catholic voting for John Kerry. People have just lost the ability to reason without emotional attachments.
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