Newsweek: Kerry up by seven points

[Freddie Stubbs]

The Race Heats Up

In a new Newsweek poll, Kerry moves ahead of George Bush as Americans grown increasingly concerned about the war in Iraq

After weeks of increasingly violent news from Iraq, presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts now leads the president in a two-way trial heat by seven points (50 percent to 43 percent), according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll.

Even after adding independent candidate Ralph Nader to the hypothetical race, Kerry enjoys a four-point lead (46 percent to 42 percent), with Nader drawing 4 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, just 36 percent of those polled say they are satisfied with "the way things are going in this country." More than half (59 percent) say they are dissatisfied. And while President George W. Bush’s job approval rating remains steady at 49 percent, where it has been since the end of January, the president's favorability ratings are lower than they’ve ever been. Forty-eight percent of those polled view Bush favorably, down four points over last month. Kerry’s ratings remain unchanged at 51 percent favorable.

more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4709863/

[ACK]

1. Yes!

Seven points a head. I do not care how accurate the poll is either. This number made it into a national news magazine which means the visibility and the perception of the Prez as a loser is hightened.

[Kolesar]

2. Article does not say "of likely voters", so I shall assume not

Good news, nonetheless. I don't know if the title is accurate, "race heating up" would indicate that Bush has somewhere to go other than down. There has been a steady trend downward in his approval and in his matchup vs. Kerry.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. They usually don't start polling likely voters until much closer to

the election.

[sangha]

4. And the important thing about polls

is the direction they are heading in.

[LividLiberal]

5. 59 percent dissatisfied with the direction this country is going

Has that ever been that high before?

These are some decent numbers for Kerry. Let's hope they keep trending in his direction. Especially good news after Bush has spent millions on campaign ads so far.

[yellowcanine]

6. 1992 deja vu - except that * is dropping faster than Poppy

Don't know whether that is good or bad. Could * "trough" too soon?

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Plus there is no Ross Perot to take 19% of the vote

[LiberalPersona]

7. Polls are meaningless, but

I can only hope this is a look at things to come.

[JCMach1]

9. How many would he be up if he had a definitive Iraq policy?

10? 15?