Reuters Poll: Bush Opens Four-Point Lead on Kerry

[saracat]

Reuters Poll: Bush Opens Four-Point Lead on Kerry


Zogby Sees Nation Divided

Zogby Dissects Bush/Kerry


By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush opened a four-point lead on Democratic Sen. John Kerry the day after the final debate between the White House rivals, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Friday.

Bush led Kerry 48-44 percent in the latest three-day tracking poll, which included one night of polling done after Wednesday's debate in Tempe, Arizona. Bush led Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, by only one point, 46-45 percent, the previous day.

An improvement in Bush's showing among undecideds and a strong response from his base Republican supporters helped fuel the president's rise.

"The good news for the president is that he has improved his performance among the small group of undecideds," said pollster John Zogby, who found 6 percent of likely voters are undecided. "Nearly a quarter now say that he deserves to be re-elected, up from 18 percent in our last poll."

Zogby said the difference between Kerry's 79 percent support among Democrats and Bush's 89 percent support from Republicans also should be "worrisome" for Kerry in such a tight race.

"Kerry needs to close the deal with his fellow Democrats," Zogby said.

Both candidates headed to the swing state of Nevada in upbeat mood on Thursday after their final debate and renewed their battle during separate appearances in Las Vegas over who was best suited to lead the middle class to prosperity.

The focus of the race now turns to less than a dozen crucial battleground states, with Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa -- where Bush and Kerry are running neck and neck -- all certain to see plenty of the candidates down the stretch.

The new tracking poll found Bush pulling into a tie with Kerry among Catholics and women voters, and moving slightly ahead with young voters. Kerry still holds a solid lead among seniors.

The poll of 1,220 likely voters was taken Tuesday through Thursday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The rolling poll will continue through Nov. 1 -- the day before the election.

A tracking poll combines the results of three consecutive nights of polling, then drops the first night's results each time a new night is added. It allows pollsters to record shifts in voter sentiment as they happen.

The poll showed independent candidate Ralph Nader, blamed by some Democrats for drawing enough votes from Al Gore to cost him the election in 2000, with the support of 1.1 percent of likely voters.

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

What the heck caused this???? How can He be ahead?????

[RebelYell]

1. Oh BS

Seriously. If they told us what the polls REALLY show, lots of voters would stay home.

This is one situation where I'm happy their lying. It will get more people out to vote.

[The Traveler]

2. Perhaps the polls are not very accurate

they do after all omit the "cell phone voters". On the other hand, perhaps this nation is too stupid to survive.

[JCMach1]

3. hmmmm

don't buy it.

[w4rma]

4. How many times is this poll going to be posted? (nt)

[seventhson]

5. This is insignificant right now - the NEXT Zogby poll is important

after the third debate has been vetted by people.

But aslso the fact that cell phoners and new voters are not included means that the numbers ar FUBAR.

I think Kerry's chances are extremely good and the polls will NOT show this. Only the election will.

[Moderator]

6. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=906476