New Poll : Pennsylvania Kerry, Bush tied at 42 % each

[Nicholas_J]

Voters Say Iraq and the Economy are the Key Issues



(Harrisburg, PA) – April 27, 2004 – George W. Bush and John Kerry are deadlocked 42% to 42% in a test election among Pennsylvania registered voters, according to the latest IssuesPA/Pew Poll. Independent Ralph Nader now attracts 5 percent support in the Keystone State. Eleven percent are undecided or prefer someone else.



Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) conducted the poll for IssuesPA, the non-partisan statewide awareness project focused on raising the issues most critical to Pennsylvania’s economic future. Funding for the survey was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.



“This poll takes the public pulse on the national issues that will help Pennsylvanians make their decisions in the November election,” said Karen A. Miller, Managing Director of IssuesPA and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League’s State Office in Harrisburg. “With all the experts saying Pennsylvania will play a prominent role in November, it’s important to know which issues matter the most to the people of the Commonwealth.”



When given a choice of seven national issues, respondents put Iraq (23%) and the economy (21%) at the top of their list, followed by health care (15%), terrorism/homeland security (13%) and the impact of foreign competition on American jobs (12%). As shown in the following table (on page 2), President Bush is far and away the favorite of voters who see terrorism as the critical issue. Kerry, however, has an advantage of 10 points or more among voters who name each of the other four issues – the economy, Iraq, jobs, and health care.

http://www.politicspa.com/temp/issuespapoll.htm


Bush has been in the lead in Pennsylvania for the last six weeks, Kerry has increased in or stayed even in past polls, Bush declines. Nader goes up again, indicating that Bush losses may be to Nader.

[lovedems]

1. Could it be that republicans will vote for Nader because of their

absolute refusal to vote for a democrat?

I find this to be a very interesting scenario and one that I never would have guessed. Not in a million years.

[On the Road]

2. Those Bush Bounces Don't Last Long, Do They?

[JETS]

3. It is shaping up to be a

very close race in this battleground state. I wouldn't put too much stock in any one poll at this time.

[fujiyama]

4. In some ways

this is good news. Just a week or so ago, Bush was ahead by 6 or so.

Looks like Kerry is holdin on. With campaigning by Teresa Heinz and Chris Heinz, I think we have a good chance of keeping that state in our column -- plus, maybe the right wing fanatics won't be as inclined to vote for Bush because he backed Spector...wishful thinking, but it's possible.

[Nicholas_J]

5. I was reading somewhere today

That some new national polls just coming out have Bush taking a big hit. Good sized drop in polls. I think that wen you see something negative in the news, it takes about a month before you see significant effects in polls, so I think the stuff with Rice at the 9/11 comission, and recent info about Bush playing with the money for Afghanistan and other stuff is only just now starting to have a measurable effect in the polls.

[Sparkly]

6. Why on earth

is Chimpy "far and away the favorite of voters who see terrorism as the critical issue?" I just don't get it!!