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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's Voice: Bush Versus Kerry
Aired February 19, 2004 - 06:35 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 have some new numbers for you, too, this morning, comparing how President Bush would do against Senator John Kerry or Senator John Edwards.
Let's head live to Gallup Poll headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, and the Gallup Poll editor-in-chief, Frank Newport.
Good morning, Frank. What do you have for us this morning?
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, good morning, Carol.
Among likely voters, who right now are very Democratic because they're also energized, Kerry would beat Bush if the election were held today, and so would Senator John Edwards from North Carolina. Now that can change, of course.
We thought we would look a little at the characteristics of these candidates. We're using John Kerry now as an illustration -- he's the front-runner for the Democratic nomination -- against Bush, and let us see how the public views these two contenders for the White House.
Bush, strong leader, 65 percent say yes. That's one of his strengths, and that's still a pretty good number. But notice that John Kerry already has 59 percent of the American public who will say he is a strong leader.
Honest and trustworthy. This is an important dimension, because George W. Bush and the weapons of mass destruction issue have caused some observers to question to some degree his trustworthiness. Notice right now Kerry does a little better. Bush: 55 to 42 -- quite a few negatives. Kerry not as well-known, but already people assume that he's honest there.
A key question for any presidential contender: Do you have a plan to solve the nation's problems? Well, Bush is well-known. He's been around for three years. So, he's getting only 42 to 52 -- excuse me -- 42 to 55: 42, yes; 55, no. Not a great picture. But Kerry doesn't do all that much better either: 42 to 41.
So, right now, the American public is saying neither of these two gentlemen -- Bush or Kerry -- necessarily has a great plan to solve the problems. And that's what it's all about.
COSTELLO: Interesting. This question of military service has been bandied around so much. Do people really care?
NEWPORT: Well, our analysis of the data suggests that it is not going to be a great big-deal issue.
Aired February 19, 2004 - 06:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We have some new numbers for you, too, this morning, comparing how President Bush would do against Senator John Kerry or Senator John Edwards.
Let's head live to Gallup Poll headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, and the Gallup Poll editor-in-chief, Frank Newport.
Good morning, Frank. What do you have for us this morning?
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, good morning, Carol.
Among likely voters, who right now are very Democratic because they're also energized, Kerry would beat Bush if the election were held today, and so would Senator John Edwards from North Carolina. Now that can change, of course.
We thought we would look a little at the characteristics of these candidates. We're using John Kerry now as an illustration -- he's the front-runner for the Democratic nomination -- against Bush, and let us see how the public views these two contenders for the White House.
Bush, strong leader, 65 percent say yes. That's one of his strengths, and that's still a pretty good number. But notice that John Kerry already has 59 percent of the American public who will say he is a strong leader.
Honest and trustworthy. This is an important dimension, because George W. Bush and the weapons of mass destruction issue have caused some observers to question to some degree his trustworthiness. Notice right now Kerry does a little better. Bush: 55 to 42 -- quite a few negatives. Kerry not as well-known, but already people assume that he's honest there.
A key question for any presidential contender: Do you have a plan to solve the nation's problems? Well, Bush is well-known. He's been around for three years. So, he's getting only 42 to 52 -- excuse me -- 42 to 55: 42, yes; 55, no. Not a great picture. But Kerry doesn't do all that much better either: 42 to 41.
So, right now, the American public is saying neither of these two gentlemen -- Bush or Kerry -- necessarily has a great plan to solve the problems. And that's what it's all about.
COSTELLO: Interesting. This question of military service has been bandied around so much. Do people really care?
NEWPORT: Well, our analysis of the data suggests that it is not going to be a great big-deal issue.
