Johnny Bravo
2004-09-03 20:51:17 UTC
New York: For the first time since the Presidential race became a two person
contest last spring, there is a clear leader, the latest TIME poll shows. If
the 2004 election for President were held today, 52% of likely voters
surveyed would vote for President George W. Bush, 41% would vote for
Democratic nominee John Kerry, and 3% would vote for Ralph Nader, according
to a new TIME poll conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Poll results are
available on TIME.com and will appear in the upcoming issue of TIME
magazine, on newsstands Monday, Sept. 6.
Most important issues: When asked what they consider are the most important
issues, 25% of registered voters cited the economy as the top issue,
followed by 24% who cited the war on terrorism as the top issue. The
situation in Iraq was rated the top issue by 17% of registered voters, moral
values issues such as gay marriage and abortion were the top issue for 16%
of respondents, and health care was the most important issue for 11% of
respondents.
Bush vs. Kerry:
The economy: 47% trust President Bush more to handle the economy, while 45%
trust Kerry.
Health care: 48% trust Senator Kerry to handle health care issues, while 42%
trust Bush.
Iraq: 53% trust Bush to handle the situation in Iraq, while 41% trust Kerry.
Terrorism: 57% trust Bush to handle the war on terrorism, while 36% trust
Kerry.
Understanding the needs of people: 47% said they trust Kerry to understand
the needs of people like themselves, while 44% trusted Bush to understand
their needs.
Providing strong leadership: 56% said they trust Bush to provide strong
leadership in difficult times, while 37% said they trust Kerry to provide
leadership in difficult times.
Tax policy: 49% trust Bush to handle tax policy, while 40% trust Kerry.
Commanding the Armed Forces: 54% said they trust Bush to be
commander-in-chief of the armed forces, while 39% said they trust Kerry.
Bush on the Issues:
Iraq: Half (50%) of those surveyed approve of the way President Bush is
handling the situation in Iraq, while 46% disapprove. In last week's TIME
poll, 48% approved of the way Bush was handling the situation in Iraq and
48% disapproved.
Terrorism: Almost two thirds (59%) said they approve of how President Bush
is handling the war on terrorism, while 38% disapprove. Last week's TIME
poll found 55% approved of Bush's handling of the war on terrorism, while
40% disapproved.
The Economy: Survey respondents were split on the President's handling of
the economy. Almost half (48%) said the approved of Bush's handling of the
economy, while 48% said the disapproved.
Other results include:
Was U.S. Right Going to War with Iraq? Over half of those surveyed (52%)
think the U.S. was right in going to war with Iraq, while 41% think the U.S.
was wrong to go to war.
Have the United States' actions in Iraq made the world safer? Almost half
(45%) think the United States' actions in Iraq have made the world safer,
while 45% think the world is more dangerous. In a similar TIME poll taken
Aug. 3 - 5, over half (52%) said the world was more dangerous, and 38% said
the world was safer.
contest last spring, there is a clear leader, the latest TIME poll shows. If
the 2004 election for President were held today, 52% of likely voters
surveyed would vote for President George W. Bush, 41% would vote for
Democratic nominee John Kerry, and 3% would vote for Ralph Nader, according
to a new TIME poll conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Poll results are
available on TIME.com and will appear in the upcoming issue of TIME
magazine, on newsstands Monday, Sept. 6.
Most important issues: When asked what they consider are the most important
issues, 25% of registered voters cited the economy as the top issue,
followed by 24% who cited the war on terrorism as the top issue. The
situation in Iraq was rated the top issue by 17% of registered voters, moral
values issues such as gay marriage and abortion were the top issue for 16%
of respondents, and health care was the most important issue for 11% of
respondents.
Bush vs. Kerry:
The economy: 47% trust President Bush more to handle the economy, while 45%
trust Kerry.
Health care: 48% trust Senator Kerry to handle health care issues, while 42%
trust Bush.
Iraq: 53% trust Bush to handle the situation in Iraq, while 41% trust Kerry.
Terrorism: 57% trust Bush to handle the war on terrorism, while 36% trust
Kerry.
Understanding the needs of people: 47% said they trust Kerry to understand
the needs of people like themselves, while 44% trusted Bush to understand
their needs.
Providing strong leadership: 56% said they trust Bush to provide strong
leadership in difficult times, while 37% said they trust Kerry to provide
leadership in difficult times.
Tax policy: 49% trust Bush to handle tax policy, while 40% trust Kerry.
Commanding the Armed Forces: 54% said they trust Bush to be
commander-in-chief of the armed forces, while 39% said they trust Kerry.
Bush on the Issues:
Iraq: Half (50%) of those surveyed approve of the way President Bush is
handling the situation in Iraq, while 46% disapprove. In last week's TIME
poll, 48% approved of the way Bush was handling the situation in Iraq and
48% disapproved.
Terrorism: Almost two thirds (59%) said they approve of how President Bush
is handling the war on terrorism, while 38% disapprove. Last week's TIME
poll found 55% approved of Bush's handling of the war on terrorism, while
40% disapproved.
The Economy: Survey respondents were split on the President's handling of
the economy. Almost half (48%) said the approved of Bush's handling of the
economy, while 48% said the disapproved.
Other results include:
Was U.S. Right Going to War with Iraq? Over half of those surveyed (52%)
think the U.S. was right in going to war with Iraq, while 41% think the U.S.
was wrong to go to war.
Have the United States' actions in Iraq made the world safer? Almost half
(45%) think the United States' actions in Iraq have made the world safer,
while 45% think the world is more dangerous. In a similar TIME poll taken
Aug. 3 - 5, over half (52%) said the world was more dangerous, and 38% said
the world was safer.