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John kerry holds huge lead over bush Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-02-18-poll_x.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-02-18-poll_x.htm
Top Democrats lead Bush in poll
WASHINGTON (USATODAY.com) — Democrat John Kerry holds his largest lead yet over President Bush in a head-to-head match-up among likely voters, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll concludes, and rival John Edwards also holds a double-digit lead over the president.
The poll, taken Feb. 16-17, indicates that if the election were held today, Kerry would be chosen by 55% of likely voters, compared to 43% for Bush. In the last polling, Feb. 6-8, Bush held a 49-48 advantage.
Edwards, Kerry's sole remaining major rival for the Democratic nomination, holds a 54%-44% advantage, the poll indicates. The question has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The numbers come as both Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, and Edwards, a senator from North Carolina, have maintained a relatively high public profile because of the ongoing Democratic presidential campaign. They also come as questions continue to be raised about Bush's Vietnam-era service in the National Guard.
Republicans have been skeptical of the head-to-head numbers during the primary season, saying they in part reflect news coverage that focuses on Democratic candidates' criticism. Earlier this month, a Bush adviser said he would rebound in time to win re-election.
"This is the way the political season works," Mary Matalin, a Bush campaign adviser, told USA TODAY earlier this month. "All of these problems are manageable."
Democrats hope Bush's troubles signal a decline that will end with an election loss.
"There is a very strong risk that this president is irreparably damaging his credibility," Joe Lockhart, a former spokesman for President Clinton, said earlier this month.
The poll indicates Kerry and Edwards hold lesser leads — or no lead at all — when all registered voters are measured. Kerry has a 51-46 edge over the president among registered voters, and Edwards holds a 49-48 edge, a statistical tie.
Bush's approval rating remained unchanged in the latest poll and remains near the lowest spot of his presidency. It currently stands at 51%, with 46% disapproving and 3% of those polled offering no opinion. Bush's low of 49% — the only time his approval ratings have sunk below 50% in his presidency — came in a Jan. 29-Feb. 1 survey.
Kerry was by far the choice for the party's nomination among registered Democrats or Democratic leaners in the latest survey, with 65% of those saying he was their Democrat of choice. Edwards trailed at 19%.
Continuing a decline that has gone on for more than a year, 55% of those surveyed said Bush was honest and trustworthy. That compares to 59% the last time the question was asked in November, and 70% when the question was asked in early January 2003. Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said Kerry was honest and trustworthy.
The poll indicated Americans felt better about Bush the person than they did about his job performance. Majorities said Bush has strong moral character and is a strong and decisive leader, but less than a majority said Bush generally agrees with them on important issues and has a clear plan for solving the country's problems.
And only 42 percent agreed Bush did his duty for the country during the Vietnam era, compared to 68 percent for Kerry.
However, the Vietnam service issue does not to be a key one to voters. Eighty percent of likely voters said Bush's actions while in the National Guard would not have much effect on their votes, and 78 percent said Kerry's combat experience in Vietnam would not have much effect.
Contributing: USA TODAY's Judy Keen.
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