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Bush, Kerry deadlocked in new poll
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-17 14:20
Two national polls have shown the race between President George W. Bush and
Democrat John Kerry is deadlocked as Bush's convention bounce faded, although
the president has made headway in key swing states.
In polls certain to buoy the spirits of anxious Democrats, the Pew Research
Centre and Harris Interactive found equal levels of support for the White House
contenders as Kerry rebounded from the withering attacks he faced at the
Republican convention that ended on September 2.
US President George W. Bush
returns to the White House in Washington after a day of campaigning in
Minnesota, September 16, 2004. Bush said Thursday freedom was on the march
in Iraq even as a US intelligence report depicted a bleak outlook for the
country. [Reuters] |
The new surveys followed two other polls in recent days, by Investor's
Business Daily and a Democratic group, Democracy Corps, that found the race
essentially even again, just as it was for months before the two parties held
their nominating conventions.
"Some of the negative attacks against Kerry are wearing off and he has stayed
in the game because people are discontent with Bush on Iraq and the economy,"
said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Centre for People and the Press.
US Democratic presidential nominee
John Kerry shakes hands with supporters after a rally in Albuquerque, New
Mexico September 16, 2004. Kerry, appearing before National Guard veterans
in Las Vegas earlier, said Bush "failed to tell you the truth" about
growing chaos in Iraq during an appearance at their convention two days
ago. [Reuters] |
"Unfortunately for Kerry, he's been unable to tap into that unhappiness,
especially on Iraq," Kohut said, noting Bush still beats Kerry 52-40 percent on
who was favoured to lead the war in Iraq. "It's a mixed picture for Kerry, but
that's better than what he had a few days ago."
Several other recent polls have shown Bush, who bounced to a double-digit
lead in two polls after the Republican convention, holding a four- to
seven-point lead over Kerry.
A flurry of new state polls, meanwhile, showed Bush moving ahead in key
states like Florida and Nevada and challenging Kerry in Democratic strongholds
like New Jersey.
Voters unsettled
"We went through a period for months where there was no air between these
candidates in the polls ... and now it's the opposite," Kohut said. "I think it
shows the voters are unsettled, their thoughts about Kerry are unsettled and
they are going back and forth."
A new National Annenberg Election Survey earlier this week found Bush gaining
ground as a leader and in the war on terror, but his approval ratings among
undecided and "persuadable" voters dropped below levels from before the
convention.
Kerry has sharpened his message and gone on the offensive against Bush this
week on Iraq and the economy, challenging the president's credibility and his
leadership on both issues.
The new focus came as he faced a chorus of complaints from fellow Democrats
about his failure to develop a coherent message and respond quickly to attacks
on his record in Vietnam.
"I feel very comfortable with where we are," Democratic Party boss Terry
McAuliffe said. "As it relates to the battleground states, I think we're in a
very good position."
Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said the campaign always expected a
close race and nothing has changed.
"We've seen polls over the past week that show the president ahead, some well
ahead and some slightly ahead, or tied," he said. "What we are planning for is a
close election, potentially as close as 2000."
The Pew survey sampled voters in two waves. The first poll of likely voters,
taken September 8-10, found Bush ahead by 16 percentage points. The second poll
on September 11-14, which had a 3.5 percentage point margin of error, found Bush
with a statistically insignificant one-point lead. Among registered voters, it
was deadlocked.
The Harris poll, which was conducted September 9-13 and had a 3 point margin
of error, found Kerry with a one-point lead. A Harris poll in June gave Bush a
10 percentage point lead.
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