Hey, WP and Steno Sue: why did you just stop polling with ABC?

[TruthIsAll]

The Washington POst didn't like the solid poll numbers Kerry
was getting when they partnered with ABC (53-45 LAST month).

So they just filed for divorce. And they are trying real hard
to keep Bush close - for Diebold. They show the race EVEN.
Even when the rest of the world (except for Fox, of course)
has Kerry opening up a nice lead. 
......................................................... 

Washington Post Poll. July 8-11, 2004. N=721 registered voters
nationwide. Fieldwork by TNS. MoE ± 4.
 
"If the 2004 presidential election were being held today,
would you vote for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, the
Republicans, John Kerry and John Edwards, the Democrats, or
Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo, the independents?" If
undecided: "Which one are you leaning toward?" Names
rotated. Trend includes variation in wording.
 
 Bush/Cheney Kerry/Edwards Nader/Camejo None/Wouldn'tVote
(vol.) No
Opinion 
  % % % % % 
 7/8-11/04 46 46 4 4 1  <<<<
.................................................

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 17-20, 2004. N=1,015
registered voters nationwide. Fieldwork by TNS.
 

"If the 2004 presidential election were being held today,
would you vote for George W. Bush, the Republican, John Kerry,
the Democrat, or Ralph Nader, the independent?" If
undecided: "Which one are you leaning toward?" Names
rotated. Trend includes variation in wording.

 GeorgeW. Bush JohnKerry Ralph Nader None/Wouldn'tVote (vol.)
No Opinion 
  % % % % % 
 6/17-20/04 44 48 6 1 1 <<<<<
 5/20-23/04 46 46 4 2 1 
 4/15-18/04 48 43 6 3 - 
 3/4-7/04 44 48 3 3 2 
     .
 
Asked of Nader supporters and undecideds:
"If Nader does not run or is not on the ballot, for whom
would you vote: Bush or Kerry?" If undecided: "Which
one are you leaning toward?" Names rotated.
 
 
 Combined results of this question and preceding question:
 
  George W. Bush John Kerry Neither (vol.) Wouldn't Vote
(vol.) No
Opinion 
  % % % % % 
 6/17-20/04 45 53 1 1 -  <<<<<
 5/20-23/04 47 49 1 1 1 
 4/15-18/04 49 48 2 1 - 
     .
 

[West Coast Democrat]

1. Who are "TNS"?

Both polls say "Field Work by TNS"