Vermont ex-guv closes in on Kerry
March 23, 2003
BY WILL LESTER
suntimes.com
WASHINGTON--Anti-war presidential candidate Howard Dean has moved into a virtual tie with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts in the latest survey of likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire.
The poll, conducted by the American Research Group of Manchester, N.H., showed Kerry with 23 percent support to Dean's 22 percent, an increase of 6 percentage points from a similar poll in February. The survey had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri garnered 15 percent, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut had 12 percent and the remaining field of candidates were in single digits.
Almost nine in 10 of Dean supporters said they opposed the war, while half of Kerry's supporters were opponents of the war. Much of Dean's gain from the February poll came from undecided voters.
The survey comes as the Kerry campaign has stepped up its criticism of Dean, arguing that the former Vermont governor has been inconsistent in his comments on the U.S.-led war against Iraq. A harsh foe of President Bush's policy, Dean said Thursday that he would continue to criticize the president but would refrain from ''red meat'' partisan attacks.
Asked about the criticism from the Kerry campaign, Dean said in an interview Friday: ''The poll says it all. They're very worried, and it's a very good sign for us. They've been doing this to us ever since the Democratic National Committee speech [in February], and I don't think it's going to work.''
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Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina isn't winning many fans at home with his bid for president.
A poll conducted for the News & Observer of Raleigh found that more North Carolina voters still disapprove than approve of the Democrat's White House candidacy, nearly three months after his initial announcement.
The statewide survey, published in Friday's editions, found that 43 percent of regular voters approve of Edwards' campaign, while 49 percent disapprove and 8 percent are not sure.
It also showed President Bush with a commanding margin over Edwards in a hypothetical general election matchup. Bush would carry North Carolina, 55 percent to 41 percent, if the election were held today, the survey found.
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