Unnamed Democrat Edges Bush In '04, Quinnipiac Poll Most Americans Are Not Satisfied With Life Today

Quinnipiac ^ | 3/6/03

[areafiftyone]

By a 48 -- 44 percent margin, American voters say they would vote for the as yet unnamed Democratic party candidate for President over Republican incumbent George W. Bush, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. 

Hampered by Americans' dissatisfaction with life in the U.S. and concerns about war and the economy, President Bush has a 53 -- 39 percent approval rating, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Only 9 percent of American voters are "very satisfied" with the way things are going in the nation today, with 35 percent "somewhat satisfied;" 28 percent "somewhat dissatisfied," and 26 percent "very dissatisfied."

In an open-ended question allowing for any answer, 31 percent of American voters list war with Iraq as the most important problem facing the U.S. today, followed by 27 percent who list the economy/unemployment and 14 percent who list terrorism/security.

"This month, we find that an unnamed Democrat would edge out President Bush. The political winds are hard to read this early in the game, but we do know that war and a bad economy are not good for anyone -- especially sitting presidents," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Voters who list the economy/unemployment as the most important problem support the Democratic candidate over Bush 61 -- 32 percent.

American voters support 57 -- 35 percent U.S. military action against Iraq to force President Saddam Hussein from power, with no mention of weapons of mass destruction.

By an almost identical 56 - 38 percent margin, voters say the U.S. should wait for United Nations support, rather than moving alone against Iraq,

"Yes, Americans want to take out Saddam.  No, they don't want to do it alone.  They'd rather take some extra time and round up some help," Carroll said.

If New York Sen. Hillary Clinton seeks the nomination for President next year, she gets the support of 37 percent of Democrats nationwide, followed by:

• Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt with 13 percent;
• Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman with 12 percent;
• Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry with 8 percent;
• North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Florida Sen. Bob Graham with 4 percent each;
• Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich with 3 percent each;
• Rev. Al Sharpton with 2 percent.

Without Clinton, Lieberman gets 21 percent, followed by

• 17 percent for Gephardt;
• 12 percent for Kerry;
• 8 percent for Edwards;
• 7 percent for Moseley-Braun;
• 6 percent for Graham;
• 5 percent for Sharpton;
• 4 percent for Dean;
• 2 percent for Kucinich.

From February 26 - March 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,232 American voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.  The survey includes 470 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and nationwide as a public service and for research.

 

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
							Most important problem
	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Econ	Terror	War
Approve	53	89	25	49	57	49	43	80	48
Disapprove	39	5	69	41	36	42	49	16	43
DK/NA	8	6	6	10	7	9	8	4	9
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?
							Most important problem
	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Econ	Terror	War
Approve	42	54	34	39	43	40	38	62	43
Disapprove	46	34	53	50	49	44	53	28	43
DK/NA	12	12	13	11	8	16	9	10	14
4.  Now I'm going to name nine Democrats who might run for president in 2004. After I read all nine names, tell me which one you would most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004 Here are the choices...Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich
		Dems
Lieberman		21
Kerry		12
Gephardt		17
Edwards		8
Dean		4
Sharpton		5
Graham		6
Moseley-Braun		7
Kucinich		2
DK/NA		18
5. Suppose New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president in 2004.  Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004?  Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich
		Dems
Clinton		37
Lieberman		12
Kerry		8
Gephardt		13
Edwards		4
Dean		3
Sharpton		2
Graham		4
Moseley-Braun		3
Kucinich		3
DK/NA		11
6. If George W. Bush runs for re-election in 2004, in general are you more likely to vote for Bush or for the Democratic Party's candidate for president?
							Most important problem
	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Econ	Terror	War
Bush	44	89	9	39	48	39	32	72	40
Democrat	48	6	87	46	44	51	61	23	52
OTHER(VOL)	2	1	1	5	3	2	2	1	2
DK/NA	6	4	3	10	5	7	5	5	7
7. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today?  Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
							Most important problem
	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Econ	Terror	War
Very satisfied	9	18	4	6	11	7	4	14	9
Smwht satisfied	35	52	20	35	37	33	25	55	37
Smwht dissat	28	23	34	28	27	30	35	23	27
Very dissat	26	6	42	29	23	29	35	8	24
DK/NA	1	2	-	2	1	2	2	-	2
8. What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
		Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom
Economy total		27	21	29	28	32	21
Economy general		22	17	23	24	26	18
Unemployment/jobs		4	4	5	4	5	3
Economy other		1	-	1	-	1	-
Education total		3	2	2	3	2	2
Education general		1	1	1	2	1	1
Funding education		1	1	1	1	1	-
Education other		1	-	-	-	-	1
Foreign affairs/Policy total		2	2	2	1	3	1
Foreign affairs/general		1	2	1	1	2	1
Priorities s/b at home		1	-	1	-	1	-
Terrorism/Security total		14	18	9	13	16	12
Terrorism general		11	13	8	11	13	9
Security/Safety		3	5	1	2	3	3
War/Iraq		31	28	36	30	23	39
Budget deficits		1	1	1	-	1	1
Taxes		1	1	-	1	2	-
Poverty/Homelessness		1	-	1	1	1	1
Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's		2	3	1	3	2	2
Medicare		1	-	1	1	-	1
Senior issues		1	-	1	-	1	-
Lack of ethics/Morality		1	3	-	1	1	1
Family breakdown/Family values		1	1	-	1	-	1
Politicians/Campaigns		4	2	5	5	4	4
Immigration		1	1	1	1	-	1
Other		6	8	3	6	6	6
DK/NA		2	2	1	2	2	2
9. Would you favoror oppose having United States forces take military action against Iraq to force Saddam Hussein from power?
							Most important problem
	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Econ	Terror	War
Favor	57	84	36	53	63	50	51	81	50
Oppose	35	10	56	37	30	41	39	14	42
DK/NA	8	6	8	9	7	9	9	5	8
10. What do you think ismoreimportant -
A) For the UnitedStates to move quickly against Iraq, even if that means acting without the support of the United Nations Security Council
or
B) for the United States to keep trying to win support from the United Nations Security Council, even if that means moving more slowly against Iraq?
							Most important problem
	Tot	Rep	Dem	Ind	Men	Wom	Econ	Terror	War
A) Move quickly without support	38	63	23	32	44	34	36	54	33
B) Wait for supp/Move more slowly	56	34	69	61	51	60	61	43	63
DK/NA	6	3	8	7	5	7	3	3	4

[OldFriend]

The pollsters are having a ball these days. Yesterday, or was it the day before, Zogby had Al Sharpton as the leading democrat presidential candidate.

Of course, well just know that Sharpton would beat President Bush in a real election!!!!!!

[Grampa Dave]

Sexually transmitted dementia is so funny to watch at our universities.

What a load of you know what by these mealy mouthed maggots.

Who cares what left wing students and professors publish as a poll?

[areafiftyone]

Hamden Connecticut - LIEberman country! Although I have to say that Quinnipiac is not a very biased poll like Zogby.

[anniegetyourgun]

Been saying it for months. She's all the D party's got. They'll get to their convention and decide to nominate her by acclamation. She will be 'crowned' queen by the media because the appearance will be that everyone loves her....just as they do. Sadly, there are many voters who will fall for it.

[areafiftyone]

I hope so. I am hoping the press briefing today will give us a hint! I am getting tired of all this!

[Grampa Dave]

I imagine that the relatives and friends of the 3,000 innocent Americans killed in the attacks of 9/11, would give anything for their lost ones to be alive in these terrible United States!

[princess leah]

I thought poll watching was over when X42 finally left the building!

[finnman69]

Just heard on ABC Radio news that sources indicate we think we know where Osama is and are closing in on him. Imagine hat the capture of Osama will do for the stock market, the economy and these polls.

[Grampa Dave]

Hey, John, the maggot infested left wing lunatics at this university deserve your 2 Cents Worth!

[Notwithstanding]

Wow - they did not ask (or maybe they did but dont want to show the reuslts) how Bush did one-on-one against each of the dim candidates

[finnman69]

And don't forget the Dummies wont vote for Lieberman.

[RJCogburn]

Typical FReeper reaction by many to unhappy poll results.

The upcoming war is obviously a kicker, but absent that, it really is the economy.......

[Oldeconomybuyer]

"Unnamed Democrat"...

Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)

1st-term Republican from Rhode Island.

[Keeper of the Turf]

...Poll Most Americans Are Not Satisfied With Life Today...

If I was a democRAT (and they were the ones who were mainly polled - I bet) I wouldn't be satisfied with life today, either.

[Grampa Dave]

This maggot infested university has been anti GW since the 2000 elections.

They are probably financed by the DNC and the DNC's cash cow, their Uncle Soddomite to trash President Bush.

[cactusSharp]

told ya Hillary is running

[areafiftyone]

STOP THAT!!!

[Peaecon]

The poll suggests that Democrats will vote for a Democrat candidate and the Republicans will vote for a Republican candidate. Is that called "news"????

[Howlin]

Exactly.

[WI Conservative 4 Bush]

Hmmm, seems the best candidate the Dems have is "Unnamed Candidate." Maybe they should just run him/her.

This is actually a very funny article. Unnamed candidate beats Bush, but the minute you actually name the individual Dem candidates, and Americans go "ick."