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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: arno who wrote (14365)	8/25/2004 2:26:42 PM
From: arno	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 90947

Kerry Lead Evaporates As Doubts Are Raised About Vietnam Service Wednesday, August 25, 2004 BY IBD STAFF President Bush has pulled even with John Kerry in a new IBD/TIPP Poll amid charges the challenger may have oversold his four months of service in Vietnam. In a three-way race, Bush and Kerry both would get 43% if the election were held today, according to the poll taken Aug. 17-23. Independent Ralph Nader would get 5%. In a two-way race, Bush and Kerry deadlock at 44%. In the previous IBD/TIPP Poll, taken Aug. 2-5, shortly after the Democratic convention, Kerry led by three points in a three-way race and by six in head-to-head competition. The latest poll surveyed 884 registered voters and has a margin of error of 3.1 points. "The recent controversy over Vietnam has perhaps cost Kerry some of his luster," said Raghavan Mayur, president of TIPP, a unit of TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, IBD's polling partner. Kerry, who made his Vietnam service a focal point during the convention, has come under fire from veterans' groups for allegedly distorting his war record. Those charges seem to have taken a toll on Kerry's support. The latest anti-Kerry ads also may have had some effect. They contrast his scathing criticism of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam in testimony before a Senate committee in 1971 and his current ardent pursuit of veterans' votes. The race in swing states also continues to be close. In late July, Kerry had a four-point lead among "battleground" voters. In the latest poll, Bush leads by a point (44% to 43%), ending Kerry's modest advantage. Bush also continued to whittle at Kerry's lead among independents. Before the Democratic convention in July, Kerry led Bush by 22 points (52% to 30%) among this group. That was cut to seven points (43% to 36%) after the convention, and Kerry has been unable to recoup the lost ground. The latest poll puts Kerry's advantage with independents at six points (41%-35%). With fewer than 70 days left before the election, Bush's popularity remains more intense than Kerry's. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Bush supporters say they support him "strongly" compared with 56% of Kerry supporters. "You have to keep this in mind while you read the trial-heat numbers," said Mayur. "Despite the fact that the race is currently tied, Bush may be in a stronger position due to his stronger intensity of support. A subpar intensity can hurt voter turnout." The IBD/TIPP Poll shows that the candidate qualities that matter most to Americans in selecting their president are "honesty and trustworthiness" (23%), "strong leadership" (21%) and "good judgment in crisis" (17%). About one in 10 are most concerned about having a president who "understands complex issues" or "cares about people like me" (12% and 11%, respectively). Perhaps surprisingly, experience and being likable are not very high on the list (6% and 2%). Bush is preferred among those who attach high import to honesty and trustworthiness (50% for Bush vs. 29% for Kerry) and strong leadership (64% Bush vs. 27% Kerry). Kerry is preferred 70%-18% among those who place high importance on understanding complex issues, and empathy — "cares about people like me" (76% Kerry and 17% Bush). Among those who think "good judgment in crisis" to be important, both Bush and Kerry are preferred equally by 45%. investors.com