Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Poll 46-46-2

[Warren DeMontague]

August 18-26, approx 3100 RV, MOE +-2

Kerry 46 (44)
Bush 46 (47)
Nader 2 (2)

Kerry has a slight lead in the two-way race in this sample. In the prior poll, Bush led 47-45 in a two-way. Here's the link:

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/08/29/20040829-A1-00.html

*Kerry leads by 12 points amongst independents; however Bush is running slightly better amongst Repubs than Kerry is amongst Dems (the article doesn't give exact numbers, but notes there are more Dem undecideds than Repubs; that's not necessarily awful news)

*Bush's job approval numbers here are unchanged--52% approve, 48% disapprove.

*54% of respondents disapprove of Bush's handling of the economy, and 54% also believe that the country is on the wrong track.

*Amongst the 6% who describe themselves as undecided, 75% disapprove of Bush's handling of the economy, and 72% believes the country is on the wrong track.

*Nader is taking slightly more from Kerry than Bush, but the exact numbers aren't given

*Kerry leads by 2 points amongst voters who have registered in 2004.

*At this stage if the 2000 race, Bush had a 6% lead over Gore in the Dispatch poll, and then went on to win the state by 3.6%, despite Gore pulling out a few weeks before election day.

*In the Senate Race, Fingherhut has made some gains; he now trails by 14, whereas he trailed by 21 in the previous sample of mid-July.