Most voters unable to name any Democratic candidates

[Silversocal]

This is not good!!!!!!

Most voters haven't started paying attention to the Democratic presidential race, says a poll released on Labor Day weekend--the campaign's traditional starting point.

Two-thirds of voters--including two-thirds of Democrats--were unable to name any of the Democratic candidates for president, said the CBS News poll out Sunday.

Joe Lieberman, Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean topped the field in the poll, with relatively low numbers that suggest the race remains wide open.

When pollsters provided voters the names of candidates in the running, Lieberman, Gephardt and Dean were the only three in double digits in support from registered Democrats.

Lieberman, a Connecticut senator, had the backing of 14 percent; Gephardt, a Missouri congressman, was backed by 11 percent, and Dean, former governor of Vermont, was at 10 percent. Other candidates were in single digits.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-poll01.html

[ixion]

1. it's early yet...

just wait until Sorros' 'Anyone but Bush' campaign begins. :bounce:

Welcom to DU! :toast:

[gandalf]

2. What media coverage do they get, compared to Government?

Is there a subjective impression or even a study that compares cumulated television presence of Democratic candiates with television presence of the Government?

[rwork]

3. I remember

not having heard anything about bush* in 1999.

[denverbill]

4. 2/3 of Americans can't find the Pacific Ocean on a map.

[ShimokitaJer]

5. Here's the link to the actual data

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/CBSNews_polls/democrats.pdf

Some interesting observations:

Only 80% of those who responded were actually registered voters, with a fairly even division between Dem/Rep/Ind

50% of those who responded said they had paid little or no attention to the campaign so far.

Despite the fact that 67% of Democrats could not name a single Democratic candidate, 50% wish they had more choices, with 19% wishing Gore would run and 6% wishing Hillary would.

Clearly, the last election is still the basis for thought of those who don't know much about THIS election, but I think it's too early to call the low Dem candidate recognition "bad news." Don't forget that all these candidates started moving REALLY early, and only the serious political junkies like us have been paying attention. As the campaign moves along and is more in the news, things will naturally change.

Still, it's difficult to understand how 32% of Democrats can be undecided whether or not they'd vote for Bush or a Democratic candidate (of course, 26% of Repubs haven't decided either).

Basically, this confirms my firmly held belief that all polls are complete and utter horse pucky.

--minor edit for grammar--

[pansypoo53219]

6. unless you live in NH or Iowa

you have no reason to care who they are, unless you are a politic nut job like us.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi Silversocal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: