Kerry Opens Huge Advantage in Michigan
reuters.com
<<...DETROIT (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry has opened a huge advantage in Michigan two days before the state's caucuses, leading Howard Dean by 37 points, according to a Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
Fresh from five wins in seven states on Tuesday, Kerry is in position for another sweeping victory in Michigan on Saturday that would continue his dominance of the Democratic race to pick a challenger to President Bush in November.
Kerry, a four-term senator from Massachusetts, held a wide lead among the old and young, liberals and conservatives, blacks, whites and Hispanics and every other sub-group.
"While the top issue is clearly the economy, electability is the major factor driving Kerry's lead," pollster John Zogby said, echoing what exit polls have found in earlier states.
Kerry supporters say they think the decorated Vietnam veteran offers Democrats the best chance to beat Bush and win the White House in November. "He by far and away trumps the other candidates in this category," Zogby said.
Kerry rolled up five victories on Tuesday in Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota and Delaware, losing to North Carolina Sen. John Edwards in South Carolina and to retired Gen. Wesley Clark in Oklahoma.
His showing on Tuesday followed earlier wins in Iowa and New Hampshire and put him in a commanding position heading into contests in Michigan and Washington on Saturday, Maine on Sunday and Virginia and Tennessee on Tuesday.
In Michigan, Kerry has won the endorsement of Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the 157,000-member Michigan Education Association teachers union.
The state had been expected to be a key battleground in the nomination fight, but Kerry's surge has forced his rivals to recalculate their strategies...>> |
