Newsweek Poll: Kerry surges to the head of the pack, beating even Bush. ( Lib RAG Alert)

newsweek via msnbc.msn.com ^ | 01/24/04 | Brian Braiker

[KQQL]

Bush’s own standing has slipped among registered voters. "Because of American leadership and resolve, the world is changing for the better," he declared Tuesday. But more people now say they are dissatisfied (52 percent) than satisfied (43 percent) with the way things are going in the United States, down from a post-9/11 peak last April of 50 percent satisfied. And even thought Bush used the State of the Union to emphasize his controversial tax cuts, Medicare overhaul, opposition to gay marriage and a burgeoning economic rebound, Bush saw his job performance ratings dip to 50 percent approval (versus 44 percent who disapprove)—his most negative ratings to date—suggesting a nation sharply divided over the president and his policies. To be sure, Bush is just as solidly backed by Republicans (85 percent) as he is opposed by Democrats (86 percent).

Overall, 52 percent of those polled by NEWSWEEK say they would not like to see Bush serve a second term, compared to 44 percent who want to see him win again in November.

As a result, Kerry is enjoying a marginal advantage over Bush, a first for the poll. Forty-nine percent of registered voters chose Kerry, compared to 46 percent who re-elected Bush.

In fact, all Democrats are polling better against Bush, perhaps due to increased media attention to their primary horserace: Clark gets 47 percent of voters’ choice compared to 48 percent from Bush; Edwards has 46 percent compared to Bush’s 49; Leiberman wins 45 percent versus Bush’s 49 percent; and Dean fares the worst with 45 percent of their votes to Bush’s 50 percent.

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For this NEWSWEEK poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates interviewed 1,006 adults aged 18 and older Jan. 22 and Jan. 23 by telephone. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points

[KQQL]

we shall see....

[Dane]

Well duh.

Who has gotten all the news lately. The demos. Dukakis was up 17% after the demo convention in 88.

[EGPWS]

this is the electorate that sent Bill Clinton to the Whitehouse....twice.

The electorate has changed colors drastically since BJ Clinton's tenor however, IMHO.

This shouldn't change peoples attitudes on making sure they vote though.

[Theresawithanh]

Exactly! Many of us conservatives are not 100% happy with President Bush, but not voting for him and helping to put a dem back in the WH is cutting off your nose to spite your face. I know, that's an old, overused saying, but I get so frustrated when I read the posts of the people who are going to, in my opinion, waste their vote on someone else.

[Dane]

This is not good. W is starting to fade even earlier than his Poppy did

Please, W. hasn't even started campaigning. It's freaking January.

Heck I think that even Mondale was polling in front of reagan during the demo primaries in 84.

[E=MC²]

Apparently some people have a very short memory and now think a demonrat in the White House wouldn't be all that bad. Conservatives can be very stubborn and aren't satisfied with incremental change...it is their way or nothing. Hopefully, the so-called moderates in the country will see straight and vote for Bush.

[MississippiMan]

W has hacked off a lot of conservative voters, including me.

Yup, he has steadily turned broken-glass Republicans into why-bother Republicans. I've been predicting since very early in his administration that he would be a one-termer, and he's done nothing to make me think differently. I did think he'd cruise to victory after Dean the Psycho appeared to be the Democratic nominee, but that's gone. Bush will desperately need an energized base in November, but he won't have it. If Kerry wins the nomination and there's no new major military crisis in November, Bush will lose.

MM

P.S. BTW, there's a 99% chance I'll vote for Bush again, simply because there's no realistic alternative and he's the slight lesser of multiple evils.

[EGPWS]

No it won't. Kerry is a lightweight.

Convince his face of that fact!...sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[HostileTerritory]

From this Massachusetts point of view, I can not believe that this good news for Kerry will last. Right now he's the unnamed Democrat frontrunner. Once people start to see and hear more from him, the charm will wear off. No one really likes him up here. I'm chuckling at the Democrats who've suddenly decided that he's the best guy for their nomination. New Hampshirites should know better. They get our tv.

[paul544]

Forget the economy. If Americans keep dying in Iraq, and no WMDs turn up, Bush is done. And this is coming from someone who plans to vote for him no matter what.

[Dane]

Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz, still has strong local ties in PA. She could actually deliver PA for Kerry, along with a few neighboring Great Lakes states

No one outside of Pittsburgh knows who she is. Ask any Clevelander and ask who Teresa Heinz is and you will get a blank stare.

[andy58-in-nh]

I'm sorry... did I neglect to turn down the volume on my speakers before I posted? Umm, not to put too fine a point on it, but what the hell are you talking about? "Shreiking?" "Complaining?". Read the post again, this time without your PO'd-at-the-World Hat on. There is no anger and no complaint in my words. My point, if you would pause to consider it, is that George Bush is a far better alternative than the Wall of Left-Wing Voodoo that opposes him. He controls his own agenda and makes his own decisions - he's no puppet of Karl Rove or anyone else. He just doesn't agree with you or me 100% of the time. As for me, I'll vote for the guy who agrees with me 80% of the time, and not stalk off in a corner somewhere, demanding a perfect score on my personal wish list. That would require a President who would abolish the Departments of Education, Labor, & HHS, among other things, and that ain't gonna happen soon. I just don't believe in making the Perfect the enemy of the Good.

[Michael81Dus]

we shall see....

I´m shocked, I tell ya, SHOCKED! Two weeks ago, I would have bet 100 bucks for Dubyas re-election, and now?

[jpl]

Please, W. hasn't even started campaigning. It's freaking January.

Yeah, I know, and it's time to start.

Heck I think that even Mondale was polling in front of reagan during the demo primaries in 84.

I still like Bush's chances of winning, but I think we need to stop deluding ourselves with fantasies of a Reaganesque landslide. The Democrats really want to win this election, which is why most of them have decided to dump Howard the Nutcase. This is going to be a fight, and it's time to start fighting.

[Dane]

So, you'd rather see the Democrats back in power, right?

Gordo and dagnabbit have one track minds. It doesn't matter to them that the demos immigration policies are 100% worse to them than W's.

[Kermit the Frog Does theWatusi]

Cey Jhn Kerry bump.

Kerry may yet sprout fangs and leathery wings.

[anniegetyourgun]

Changed colors? I disagree. If anything libs are even more PO'ed than they were going into Nov/2000. Mods votes haven't changed...and never do. Conservatives with either stay home, waste their vote, or try to give us 4 more years of sanity. And my guess is, that's all we're gonna get. This country is so filled with whack-jobs and idiots that we're certain to see Hillary in the WH in 2008.

[HostileTerritory]

I usually disparage people who make excuses for bad poll results for Bush, but for once I agree. People will get to know Kerry and tune him out really quickly.

[Dane]

I´m shocked, I tell ya, SHOCKED! Two weeks ago, I would have bet 100 bucks for Dubyas re-election, and now?

It's January and the demos have been getting all the press. And this is a Newsweek poll. Newsweek had Gore ahead 10 points during most of 2000.

[HostileTerritory]

I think that Bush will really take a hit over "weapons of mass destruction related program activities." I watch the Daily Show and Jon Stewart had a field day with that line. Most of the time the RATS ridicule Bush it's easy to tune them out, because it just makes them look elitist and hateful, but this was hard not to smile at.

I still think Bush is going put this one away without problems. He just comes across so much better than any RAT could.