The conventional wisdom used to be that as long as the public's attention was on war and national security issues, reelection would be a cakewalk for President Bush. And, conversely, if the focus was turned to the economy that would play into the hands of his Democratic challenger.
Wave goodbye to convention wisdom. Here's the new paradigm: The president and his aides are trying to turn the public's attention to the economy, which is showing some signs of recovery - because, as a new Washington Post poll confirms, Americans are losing confidence in Bush's leadership as commander in chief.
And yet, the economy may not be someplace where Bush can point to great leadership either...the latest economic news is not really so great. There are still many fewer jobs than when Bush took office and new figures show that wages are not keeping up with inflation.
Public anxiety over mounting casualties in Iraq and doubts about longterm consequences of the war continue to rise and have helped to erase President Bush's once-formidable advantage over Sen. John F. Kerry concerning who is best able to deal with terrorist threats, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Exactly half the country now approves of the way Bush is managing the U.S. war on terrorism, down 13 percentage points since April...
Fewer than half of those - 47 percent - say the war in Iraq was worth fighting, while 52 percent say it was not...
Seven in 10 Americans now say there has been an 'unacceptable' level of casualties in Iraq...
By 52 percent to 39 percent, Kerry is seen as more honest and trustworthy--a troubling finding for Bush, whose truthfulness before the war in Iraq has been called into question.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60120-2004Jun22.html