Chicago Trib: State voter support for Bush dives

[iconoclastic cat]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0405300185may30,1,4739012.story?coll=chi-news-hed

State voter support for Bush dives
Kerry backing big, but it's leveling off
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By Rick Pearson
Tribune political reporter

May 30, 2004

For the first time in his presidency, a majority of Illinois voters now hold an unfavorable opinion of President Bush and also disapprove of his performance in the White House, particularly his handling of the occupation of Iraq and an economy that many believe continues to lag, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.

Yet, even though the survey shows presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry continuing to hold a solid lead over Bush in Illinois, the Massachusetts senator's support appears to have leveled out despite the continued decline in the Republican president's ratings on key issues.

Still, the poll of 600 likely registered voters, conducted May 21-24, shows Kerry with a commanding 16 percentage-point lead over Bush in a head-to-head November matchup--54 percent to 38 percent. And even if independent Ralph Nader were to qualify for the Illinois ballot, Kerry maintains a 16 percentage-point lead over Bush--53 percent to 37 percent. Nader receives only 4 percent.

The poll showed 52 percent of Illinois voters now say they have an unfavorable opinion of Bush compared with only 37 percent who look upon him favorably. In addition, 55 percent say they disapprove of the way he is handling the presidency.

(more)

[kalian]

1. Hmmm....

OK, shrub is losing support but at the same time Americans could
really care less about Kerry. This is what I am observing from all
these recent polls.

Interesting to say the least.

[iconoclastic cat]

2. Isn't it common wisdom that first-term elections are a referendum on the

sitting president? Really, from all of the poli/sci professors and political junkies I talk to, this isn't really that surprising.

[Mountainman]

5. I wonder if the Repubs think it is not all that surprising?

The word back this spring was that Bush would be elected by a landslide no matter who the Dem was that was running. I'm sure that a lot of the Bush cool aide drinkers are surprised at this story this morning.

[iconoclastic cat]

7. Again, conservative anti-intellectualism leads to self-delusion...

I'm not surprised that they are surprised!
But, like so many others, I live in a place where I have not seen one "Bush in 2004" sticker in months.

[tlcandie]

10. Lucky you! I live in Florida and have seen several!

nt

[ixion]

21. yeah, me too... but anymore it says: "look at me, I'm a facist barbarian"

and an arrogant idiot to boot.

I don't see many, but I'm always amazed when I do.

[lanparty]

26. This is why ...

This is why Bob Graham should be the Democratic VP nominee. Bob Graham can help deliver Florida.

[LiberalFighter]

32. We all need to keep it in front of everyone...

I have printed several signs that I placed in the back of my window. I plan to change at least once a week until the election.

For a few days it was

Bill for the Iraq War?
$4,000 per Household

A couple of days ago I changed it to

My country, always.
My government when it deserves it.


If anyone has any other signs that would put doubt in the hearts and minds of resident republicans in my town please let me know. I use legal size paper folded in half with a message on both sides.

It would be good if everyone on DU would put signs in the back of their vehicles.

[Nevernose]

14. They're not surprised

They're in denial.

Those polls are merely a propoganda tool of the liberal media. You're a communist and so is John Kerry. God bless the American flag. ;-)

[Arugula Latte]

18. Remember all the "Can Bush Be Beaten?" Hardballs?

I swear, I must have flipped past five or six of these Tweety shows that were assuring us that no one, and they meant no one, could possibly beat the Prancer-on-the-Aircraft carrier.

[eaprez]

8. 2004 isn't the midterm elections

..2002 was.

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Duh, sorry, just woke up.

Is there a name for those? First-term? hmmm

[Cocoa]

3. that's the spin all right

they'll be saying that all through Kerry's eight years.

[alarcojon]

12. My take is that

Bush's base is leaving him, but most of them are too hardcore to ever go for Kerry, so they are going into the undecided column. They'll either stay home or vote Libertarian.

[iconoclastic cat]

15. Actually, Chicago has a lot of Greens and Libertarians.

I was just talking to a friend who is an avowed Libertarian, and he claims that Illinois Libertarians are seething over Bush and Cheney. Many of them are voting for Kerry out of spite.

[lanparty]

27. I've spoken to John Birchers

I've spoken to John Birchers who are REALLY peeved at President Bush. With their ideology, they have a right to be. They have been against international organizations for a long time. Bush is a 100% internationalist despite campaigning AGAINST them.

Hopefully, the Birchers are waking up and realizing that the UN is the global equivalant of a neighborhood association. They have no power and no authority. NAFTA, GATT, WTO, World Bank and IMF are the real "new world order".

That's why those Birchers say they are voting for NADER.

Look at it this way. Voting strategy shouldn't be counted in ones. A vote for YOU is TWO votes for you.

A vote by a conservative for NADER is one vote for you, -1 for Bush. Likewise, a Democrat voting for NADER is -1 for Kerry and +1 for Bush. If Nader appeals AGGRESIVELY to conservatives who DESPISE NAFTA and WTO he could pull more CONSERVATIVE votes than liberal ones in some areas.

Just imagine if Kerry would just get off the fence and OPPOSE NAFTA and WTO. He would be a SHOE IN for the popular election.

[Entente]

17. The main problem w Kerry is that he is not really good looking

If he was americans would care more for him even if they knew the same amount of info they know now of Kerry.

But oh well! We will win in November anyways and then Kerry will seem more attractive to everyone compared to Bush.

[natrat]

19. so true Americans can

be shallow---I like the way skeletor looks

[rfkrocks]

23. You like the way Rumsfeld Looks?

:puke:

[natrat]

38. no rummy is scary--comes across as decent, thoughtful but

is corrupt as the others----skeletor=kerry

[rfkrocks]

39. skeletor is evil

is that how you feel?

[liveoaktx]

29. Uh... Like BUSH is good-looking? Maybe on Monkey Island!

[crossroads]

35. I agree, but the public is very shallow.

We have been raised on TV and media and what they tell us looks attractive we tend to believe and judge others by. Kerry reminds me of Abe Lincoln in many ways. We aught to see beneath the sheath/shell into the Soul/character of our fellow human beings. I feel Kerry defined himself in character when he had the Soul and conscience to speak out against the Vietnam War which, IMO, like Iraq, was a big mistake in the first place!
:eyes:

BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

[lanparty]

25. Negative ads (blatant lies)

Bush's strategy is to NOT run on his record. His strategy is to trash Kerry.

Frankly, I don't think Illinois will factor into the election much. Daley's machine will produce enough Democratic votes that Illinois will not be "in play".

[LiberalFighter]

33. That would be another angle to counter gw*

The fact that gw* is attacking Kerry instead of running on his record. Shows that his record is a failure and that gw* is a failure.

[Mountainman]

4. the Massachusetts senator's support appears to have leveled out

Why do they always put it negatively about Kerry. They could just as well said that Kerry's lead over Bush has remained stable.

[iconoclastic cat]

6. The Tribune is hyper-conservative; this is good for them!

Trust me on this.

[nolabels]

31. Besides would you trust them if they said their readership has leveled off

Some things get better with age, but.........

It all depends how you look at it anyway, conservative Dems have something to vote for, but Radical Repubs (neocon types) might be the only type wanting to support *. This could be plausible

Fiscally conservative / socially moderate is the life for me, land spreadin out so far and wide, keep Manhattan just give us back that countryside.

[eaprez]

9. Only one question....

....what took them so long to figure out he was an idiot?

[iconoclastic cat]

13. Many people whom I meet are totally detached from politics until something

horrible assaults their vision, such as the Abu Ghraib abuse photos.

[qwertyMike]

22. Agreed

Most here are Political Junkies.

In their day to day lives (if they even follow the 'news') most people got work/family/bills to think about.
They are decent people.

In yer face stuff like the Abu photos grabs them. They know it's wrong.

Enough about the sheeple!!

[Frances]

16. I will be happy when Bush has about 20% support

I could live with 20% of voters being duped by the man, but more than that is hard to take.

[natrat]

20. i'll be happy when they have

to give back the money they have probably stolen

[crossroads]

36. Me too...

BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

[Lou_C]

24. I think that it's higher then what they are telling us

Bush is going down!

[T Bone]

28. Illinois used to be considered a microcosm of the entire US

Around 30 years ago, Illinois was considered to be a microcosm of the US. As a sample it contained all the types of voters in the same proportion as the entire US. I wonder if that is still the case?

Remember the old phrase: "Will it play in Peoria?"

Does anyone know if Illinois is still a relatively close microcosm, or maybe another state now is?

[llmart]

30. My take on this is that.....

a lot of these RW newspapers (and the Tribune is one of them)now have to eat some crow about * but they still are trying to put a positive spin on it. There is going to come a point, and we may already be there, that even the RW rags are going to have to print the fact that Kerry is beating * in a landslide. What I'm curious about is who these RW rags are going to endorse? Will they go with the most likely winner, Kerry, or will they still toe the corporate line and endorse the LOSER *?

[LiberalFighter]

34. Maybe when the Trib eats crow Novak will leave

[lanparty]

37. Novak works for the Sun Times ...

A Murdoc rag. Though, there is no excuse for CNN not firing him.