Bush's grim poll numbers.

[UpInArms]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2104745/

1. What's changed. Three major media polls have been taken since the convention: ABC News/Washington Post, CBS News/New York Times, and CNN/USA Today. Prior to the convention, Kerry's favorable rating was nine points higher than his unfavorable rating in the ABC poll. Since the convention, this margin has grown to 19 points. Bush's positive margin on the same question is just two points.

In a CBS poll before the convention, the percentage of voters who were uneasy about Kerry's ability to handle an international crisis was 19 points higher than the percentage who were confident in his ability to handle such a crisis. After the convention, that margin of unease has shrunk to 11 points. Bush's negative margin on the same question is 12 points. In the CBS pre-convention poll, voters said by a 51-36 margin that the Democrats did not have a clear plan for the country. After the convention, they say by a 44-40 margin that the Democrats do have a clear plan.

In a CNN poll before the convention, voters agreed by a 12-point margin that Kerry had "the personality and leadership qualities a president should have." After the convention, the margin is 20—eight points higher than the margin for Bush on the same question. Before the convention, by a 51-43 margin, voters trusted Bush rather than Kerry "to handle the responsibilities of commander-in-chief of the military." Now the candidates are even. Before the convention, more voters trusted Bush than Kerry "to protect U.S. citizens from future acts of terrorism." Now more voters trust Kerry than trust Bush.

...more...

[Gman]

1. Hence the WH plan to belittle, insult, denigrate and in general trash

Kerry during the month of August and leading up to the RNC.

[wurzel]

2. How are those clowns going to ridicule Kerry?

I don't think Kerry lends himself to ridicule. He looks, and acts like he came down from Mt Rushmore.

[Sinistrous]

6. There is something about this picture that I really like:

[wurzel]

7. And they say he as no "Charisma"? n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Comment

Four years ago, based on numbers less grim than these, I said Bush was toast. Gore had passed Bush, and I thought the numbers couldn't turn around. I was wrong. They could, and they did, and they could again. But this time, Bush is the incumbent. It's hard to imagine what he can say from here on out that's going to change people's minds about him.

I don't watch much TV, but a while back I had the displeasure of seeing Kate O'Beirne on The Capitol Gang snap to her fellow pundits that "George W. Bush is no Jimmy Carter."

Nonsense. Bush is in the exact same position, he's even less effective in even more crucial times and he has an opponent about whom fewer people have serious ideological doubts. Kerry will win going away.

[bemildred]

8. Well said. nt

[otohara]

4. Giddy Over Grim

makes me nervous what ugly evil thoughts Karl Rove has up his sleeve. Desperate people ---

[Shrubhater]

5. Somebody should play the song

Help! Bush is coming! (I composed it). On the bright side though, you said tha more voters trust kerry than bush! :bounce: :headbang:

[Demeter]

9. Not Grim Enough

Until the mirror of denial cracks across the Evangelical America, there will never be enough margin in the polls.

Now, there is no special dispensation that keeps the laws of nature at bay, nor the laws of economics, for the Deluded Right. Granted, there are lots of man-made laws keeping their cover together, but still, Reality is going to speak very loudly. And when it does, that Wall will come down.

So, what will it take? How do we help Reality to level the playing field?

[praxiz]

10. It will get worse.

Much worse.