Pew Research Poll: Democratic Primary Campaign Impresses Voters

[Feanorcurufinwe]

So far, the presidential primary campaign has been very good for the Democratic Party. Public interest in the race has been relatively high. Nearly half of Americans (45%) have a positive overall impression of the Democratic field, up from 31% just a month ago. And while a slim majority of the public continues to believe that President Bush will win the general election, there also has been a sharp rise in the percentage who feel a Democratic candidate will prevail in November ­ from 21% in January to 36% in the current survey.

Democrats themselves have become much more engaged, and confident, since the start of their party's primary campaign, but the shift has been notable among independents as well. In January, 47% of Democrats and just 27% of independents gave positive ratings to the Party's field. Currently, 61% of Democrats and 44% of independents express a positive opinion of the Democratic candidates. And significantly more Democrats and independents predict Democratic victory than did so in January.

At a time when President Bush's approval ratings and personal image are in sharp decline, the leading Democratic presidential candidates have made a positive impression on the public. Two-thirds (67%) of those familiar enough with Sen. John Kerry to rate him have a favorable view of him; Sen John Edwards' favorable rating is nearly as high (63%), though fewer people are familiar with him than they are with Kerry.

Bush's personal image, by contrast, is at the low point of his presidency. His overall favorability rating has tumbled from 72% last April, shortly after the fall of Baghdad, to 53% in the current survey. Moreover, when asked for a one-word description of Bush, equal percentages now give negative and positive responses, which marks a dramatic shift since last May when positive descriptions outnumbered negative ones by roughly two-to-one (52%-27%). The most frequently used negative word to describe Bush is "liar," which did not come up in the May 2003 survey. The president's job approval also stands at an all-time low. Just 48% approve of his performance as president, the first time in his presidency his rating has fallen below 50%.

More: http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=203

[rpf113]

1. This is wonderful news.

Now if only it were November already...

[MrSoundAndVision]

2. Certainly there is a correlation...

between those favorable perception numbers and favorable media reports. Don't forget that come November. It's time to break up the media monopolies...Dennis Kucinich for President!

[buckeye1]

3. Gee,

what happened tp the 9 "midgets".

[glarius]

4. His days are numbered if this is true!

It makes me so happy to see that the American public is finally realizing they have been fed a line of bull about this honest, straightforward, compassionate LIAR.....The lie was repeated never-endingly as being the truth about Bush and the American public bought it...If they are waking up to the truth, then his days are numbered.....As a Canadian I cannot think of a better present for my country and the REST OF THE WORLD than to have a Democratic president elected in November....:)

[opihimoimoi]

5. ""LIAR,,, LIAR,,, Pants of FIRE""

Bush is TOAST. No one believes him anymore. He has shot his wad.

All over but the shouting.

[union_maid]

6. We have a shot for sure

I think we had a wonderful slate of candidates. I can't say it enough. Even the ones who were never really in the running had something important to say and got a national stage from which to say it. The White House is really worried now and they should be.