Kerry Edges Bush in Penn. Poll

[Freddie Stubbs]

Provided By: The Associated Press
Last Modified: 10/12/2004 11:30:58 AM


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Sen. John Kerry maintains a slight lead over President Bush in Pennsylvania, according to a new poll that shows clear differences in how voters perceive the two candidates but reflects little movement on the major issues of the campaign.

Kerry, the Democratic candidate, was supported by 46 percent and the Republican president by 42 percent of 1,980 registered voters in the independent survey by the Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Ten percent of the respondents were undecided.

Among a smaller group of 1,343 likely voters, including undecided people who said they were leaning toward one candidate or the other, the candidates were about even with Kerry at 49 percent, Bush at 47 percent and 4 percent undecided.

In a three-way race that included independent candidate Ralph Nader, who is fighting in state courts to qualify for the Pennsylvania ballot, Kerry was backed by 46 percent of registered voters, while Bush was favored by 43 percent and Nader by 3 percent. Seven percent were undecided.

more: http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=53110

[tigereye]

1. God why is it even that close?

It's not like * has done anything to benefit voters here, other than that he and Cheney keep coming here. (and I don't see how that really benefits us :) He keeps saying that he has, but as I drive around my corner of WPA all I see are boarded- up buildings, failed businesses, the fall-out of the rust belt, and people with medical problems that aren't being paid for. Why does * have even the amount of support he does? My small bit of canvassing for Move-on in my neighborhood yielded most leaning Kerry, even Republicans, for a variety of reasons.

[lancdem]

2. Relax

Look at Bush's share of the vote. He ain't coming close to winning any state where he's polling at 42 or 43 percent. That's several percentage points LESS than what he got in PA in 2000, when he lost the state to Gore by under 5 percent.

Kerry will win PA by at least the margin Gore did.

[expatriot]

3. We can not afford to relax...there is a healthy middle-ground

[lancdem]

5. I didn't mean be overconfident

I just think Kerry will win PA. I live here, and every recent poll has him ahead in the state and shows Bush getting in the low 40s.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. They are going for broke in Pennsylvania

I am franky quite concerned. We may lead in the polls there but there is no telling how they will seek to disenfranchise Democratic votes.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. PA is a swing state

It has a Democratic Governor and two Republican US Senators. Republicans have a majority of the congressional delegation and hold majorities in both houses of the state legislature.