KEY finding in Newsweek poll: Solid majority wants Bush OUT!

[BurtWorm]

The Dem horse race stuff is interesting, but the stuff about Bush is excellent news, no matter whom you're backing.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040124/nysa010a_1.html

Meanwhile, a week after President Bush's State of the Union address, his approval rating has fallen to 50 percent from 54 percent in the last Newsweek Poll (1/8-9/04). Yet, a 52-percent majority of registered voters says it would not like to see him re-elected to a second term. Only 44 percent say they would like to see him re-elected, a four-point drop from the last Newsweek Poll. (Of that, 37% strongly want to see him re-elected, and 47% strongly do not). However, a large majority of voters (78%) says that it is very likely (40%) or somewhat likely (38%) that Bush will in fact be re- elected to a second term in office. Only 10 percent believe it is not too likely or not at all likely (10%).

With 52 percent of registered voters saying they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. this year, the issues that are very important in helping them determine who they will vote for are: the economy and jobs (83%); health care (75%) and education (74%); the situation in Iraq and terrorism and homeland security (70%). The least important is the appointing of new Supreme Court justices and federal judges (42%).

A 53-percent majority of Democrats and Democratic leaners say they are more inclined to vote for the candidate who comes closest to their way of thinking on the issues rather than the candidate with the best chance of defeating President Bush (39%). And the large majority (71%), says it's very important that the Democratic presidential nominee has clear-cut alternatives to Bush on issues like Iraq and taxes; can attract young people and other first-time voters to turn out and support the Democratic ticket (70%); understands the concerns of working families because he grew up in one (64%); has foreign policy and national defense experience (56%), and comes across as even-tempered and appeals to voters in the South (54%).

For this Newsweek Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates International interviewed 1,006 adults aged 18 and older on January 22-23, 2004. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. This poll is part of the February 2 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, January 26).

[WiseMen]

1. Missed Main Point: Only John Kerry Beats Bush 49% to 46%

[BurtWorm]

3. No, the main point is 52% do not want to see Bush reelected.

Right now Kerry does best against Bush, because he's leading the horserace. But a greater percentage don't want Bush in there next year. Those who strongly want Bush defeated are stronger in number than those who would vote for Bush against Kerry. (47% against 46%.) This is good news for all Democrats. For all Americans, in my opinion!

[Kathleen04]

2. Excellent news for all Democrats!

:)

[BurtWorm]

4. kick

[jsw_81]

5. Don't get too excited

As we all saw in Iowa, these kinds of polls can change almost overnight. In the spring of 1992, Newsweek had Clinton running third behind Bush and Perot. In the summer of 1988, polls had Dukakis with a twenty-point lead. In 1984, Mondale was tied with Reagan etc.

[BurtWorm]

7. Think of it as a snapshot of American feeling for Bush

right after the State of the Union message. It's a wake-up call to Rove, if he hasn't gotten enough of them in the last year. The US doesn't love his boy. That's good news. It doesn't mean Bush will mecessarily lose. It just means we're neither crazy nor alone!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. He's been toast for a long time.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Main point: Kerry beats Bush

[BurtWorm]

10. If you say so.

;)

[Old and In the Way]

9. I think there's a good chance that Bush bottoms out in November.

He may end up with his 30% base and that's it. Really, only an idiot or a masochist would want another 4 years of Bush-style peace and prosperity.

"Winner" psychology could play the other way, too. People hate to be siding with losers. Remember the pro-war demonstrators? How many of the cheerleaders now realize they were the fools for supporting Dimson? Once they see that a vast majority of Americans are voting against Bush, it won't take a whole lot for the herd to bolt in a big way.