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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's Voice: Election Issues
Aired February 03, 2004 - 06:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've got some new political numbers for you, too, now. The people over at Gallup have been busy.
So, let's head live to Princeton, New Jersey, and Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport.
Good morning, Frank. We're going to talk about the election first, right?
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: That's indeed right, Carol. Things are looking pretty good for John Kerry nationally. This is important. This is among Democrats across the country. Who do they support? And this is a poll -- CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup through this past weekend, and look at how dominant he is: 49 percent now of registered Democratic voters nationally say they want him to be their nominee. Look how far ahead he is of Dean, Edwards, Clark and Lieberman.
By the way, we can put this in historical perspective. There has never been a Democratic candidate who was this far ahead in our national data who didn't go on to get the nomination. So, generally speaking, regardless of what happens today, things look pretty good for John Kerry.
Also, when we pit Kerry against Bush in a general election trial heat, look at what we're finding. We're now finding a seven-point lead among likely voters nationally. Kerry would defeat Bush if this hypothetical race was held today. John Edwards, he ties Bush. That's the second from the left there. Clark would lose slightly, and then Howard Dean does the worst. He would lose to Bush by seven points.
But right now, John Kerry ahead of Bush in a general election trial heat -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Very interesting. Those poll results certainly look less positive for President Bush. Why is that?
NEWPORT: Well, the reason Bush is not doing well against Kerry: One, Kerry looks good nationally; second, Bush's job approval. His overall standing among the American public is now at the lowest point of his administration.
I've graphed this for you from December. Now, Bush was very high here job approval-wise, 63 and 60. That came after the well- publicized capture of Saddam Hussein. Look at how it's been going down. Bush's job approval is now at 49. Now, he was at 50 once before, Carol, back in September, so that's just one point below where Bush has been before. But it's symbolic. The first time in his administration Bush's job approval is below 50 percent.
One of the reasons is Iraq. I just wanted to show you this. We asked a basic question, a very important question: Was the situation in Iraq worth going to war over? And now, we're finding that's dropped to 49 percent, one point below 50.
So, again, there's no question that the weapons of mass destruction controversy at all relating to Iraq has hurt Bush's standing, at least temporarily.
COSTELLO: Interesting. OK, we're going to totally switch gears, because we want to talk about these celebrity trials going on, and if Americans really care what the outcome of these trials -- what the outcomes are, I should say.
Give us some numbers on that.
NEWPORT: Well, it's we're trial happy, of course. We've got them going, coming and going -- trials under way now and trials that are going to be going under way.
There is one that Americans are very interested in. I'll show you that in a second.
But look here. Scott Peterson actually, 57 percent of Americans say at least somewhat interested in that trial out in California; lss so for some of the other ones involving celebrities. Martha Stewart in New York City: 47 percent interest. Michael Jackson, that trial that will be forthcoming: 44. Kobe Bryant, the basketball player, in Colorado: 43.
The one they're really interested in will be Saddam Hussein. When that trial is up and coming, Carol, 92 percent of Americans say that will be the trial that they're really going to follow closely.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Frank Newport reporting live for Gallup from its headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired February 3, 2004 - 06:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've got some new political numbers for you, too, now. The people over at Gallup have been busy.
So, let's head live to Princeton, New Jersey, and Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport.
Good morning, Frank. We're going to talk about the election first, right?
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: That's indeed right, Carol. Things are looking pretty good for John Kerry nationally. This is important. This is among Democrats across the country. Who do they support? And this is a poll -- CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup through this past weekend, and look at how dominant he is: 49 percent now of registered Democratic voters nationally say they want him to be their nominee. Look how far ahead he is of Dean, Edwards, Clark and Lieberman.
By the way, we can put this in historical perspective. There has never been a Democratic candidate who was this far ahead in our national data who didn't go on to get the nomination. So, generally speaking, regardless of what happens today, things look pretty good for John Kerry.
Also, when we pit Kerry against Bush in a general election trial heat, look at what we're finding. We're now finding a seven-point lead among likely voters nationally. Kerry would defeat Bush if this hypothetical race was held today. John Edwards, he ties Bush. That's the second from the left there. Clark would lose slightly, and then Howard Dean does the worst. He would lose to Bush by seven points.
But right now, John Kerry ahead of Bush in a general election trial heat -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Very interesting. Those poll results certainly look less positive for President Bush. Why is that?
NEWPORT: Well, the reason Bush is not doing well against Kerry: One, Kerry looks good nationally; second, Bush's job approval. His overall standing among the American public is now at the lowest point of his administration.
I've graphed this for you from December. Now, Bush was very high here job approval-wise, 63 and 60. That came after the well- publicized capture of Saddam Hussein. Look at how it's been going down. Bush's job approval is now at 49. Now, he was at 50 once before, Carol, back in September, so that's just one point below where Bush has been before. But it's symbolic. The first time in his administration Bush's job approval is below 50 percent.
One of the reasons is Iraq. I just wanted to show you this. We asked a basic question, a very important question: Was the situation in Iraq worth going to war over? And now, we're finding that's dropped to 49 percent, one point below 50.
So, again, there's no question that the weapons of mass destruction controversy at all relating to Iraq has hurt Bush's standing, at least temporarily.
COSTELLO: Interesting. OK, we're going to totally switch gears, because we want to talk about these celebrity trials going on, and if Americans really care what the outcome of these trials -- what the outcomes are, I should say.
Give us some numbers on that.
NEWPORT: Well, it's we're trial happy, of course. We've got them going, coming and going -- trials under way now and trials that are going to be going under way.
There is one that Americans are very interested in. I'll show you that in a second.
But look here. Scott Peterson actually, 57 percent of Americans say at least somewhat interested in that trial out in California; lss so for some of the other ones involving celebrities. Martha Stewart in New York City: 47 percent interest. Michael Jackson, that trial that will be forthcoming: 44. Kobe Bryant, the basketball player, in Colorado: 43.
The one they're really interested in will be Saddam Hussein. When that trial is up and coming, Carol, 92 percent of Americans say that will be the trial that they're really going to follow closely.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Frank Newport reporting live for Gallup from its headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
