Bush and Dean seen as farther away from average voter

[onehandle]

Dean was seen as further from the average Americans' political views than President Bush, according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. But some other leading Democratic candidates were closer to the average voter's views than Bush.

snip...

Other candidates like Clark, John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, John Edwards and Joe Lieberman were relatively close to the average voter in a general election, while Bush was seen as more conservative.

snip...

Six in 10 voters said they expect Bush to win re-election in November, up from 47 percent who said that in September. Twelve years ago, 66 percent said Bush's father would win re-election.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040115/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_poll_1

(changed subject to reflect my point)

[the populist]

1. Kerry and Gephardt are far more liberal n/t

[DaisyUCSB]

2. That seems to be the flaw in him compared to an Edwards or a Clark

He SEEMS more liberal than he actually is to most people, and they SEEM less liberal than they actually are.

[cryofan]

11. very perceptive! eom

[patricia92243]

3. Just goes to show the power of the press-people believe what they say.

[HFishbine]

4. This poll measures nothing more than perceptions

and even not those very well.
-------

The Pew Research Center measured political ideology by asking respondents where they would place themselves on a scale of 1 to 6, with 1 being the most conservative and 6 being the most liberal. And they also asked them to place the leading presidential candidates on that same scale.


The poll found that Democrats and Republicans are moving further toward the ideological extreme of their party, with Democrats becoming more liberal and Republicans becoming more conservative.

<snip>

Howard Dean (news - web sites) is seen by the general public as the most liberal of the leading Democratic presidential candidates but he appears to be in the mainstream as far as likely Democratic primary voters are concerned, a poll found.

[onehandle]

6. Perception is all that counts.

"Al Gore claims he Invented the Internet"

"Al Gore exagerates"

"Al Gore is a boring policy wonk"

[Kahuna]

7. Who fostered the perceptions?

:shrug: You tell me.

[w4rma]

10. You helped. (n/t)

[AP]

13. And whose discursive skills were so mediocre, he couldn't create alternate

perceptions.

If Gore had seemed like a man of conviction -- if he seemed like he strongly felt something -- anything -- that mattered to Americans, he would have been able to challenge the Republicans attempts at defining him.

[Nay]

5. Since the average voter is an idiot, this is probably true.

Sorry. Having a misanthropic day here.

[Orangepeel]

8. Sure, now. Dean has been under a barrage of negative press

No matter who we nominate, the republican lie-machine will demonize them as extreme liberals (yes, even if they are war heroes like Max Clelland). They have every intention and plenty of money to do it.

Of course, people should support the candidate they like best and feel has the best chance to win. But I sure how that that candidate has a way to fight against this demonizing (with, for example, a strong grassroots effort that bypasses the media) and supporters aren't just counting on the inability of the right wing to trash that candidate.

[wyldwolf]

9. yep

[oasis]

12. Many like him, many don't. That's not cutting it.

[wholeworld]

14. duh

that's why the Dems should stay in the middle

[drfemoe]

15. Public Sees Dean As Most Liberal

The Article Title: Public Sees Dean As Most Liberal

..."People see Dean as much more liberal than themselves," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center. "When you get to likely Democratic primary voters, they see themselves as pretty close to Dean — that's a measure of the Democrats' dilemma."
...Dean was leading the Democratic field in this national poll, with the support of 26 percent of likely primary voters ... "

Dean is closer to Democratic voters' ideals >>

"The poll found that Democrats and Republicans are moving further toward the ideological extreme of their party, with Democrats becoming more liberal and Republicans becoming more conservative." ... "Twelve years ago, 66 percent said Bush's father would win re-election. ... "
bold added

The article seems to be saying that the "average American" considers themselves less liberal than "likely Democratic primary voters". However, Dean is closer to the Democratic liberal ideology. In 1992 I considered myself very conservative, but never aligned myself with the R Party. I voted for Clinton in spite of my conservative ideals.

I've read many comments written by conservatives at the WSJ site and others indicating they will not vote for B***. This is good news for Democrats. We have the perfect opportunity this year to elect a man who represents our liberal ideals.