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Kerry, John

Polls Show Mixed Results for Kerry After Democratic National Convention

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Democratic National Convention may have yielded mixed results for John Kerry's presidential campaign, with some polls showing a bump in support and others indicating no significant change. Two major party tickets were tied among registered voters in a three-way race. Kerry's campaign has taken its message to the road, with a visit to Grand Rapids and Muskegon, Michigan, where he rode a high-speed ferry across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee. Polls suggest that Kerry's campaign may not have received a substantial "bounce" in the polls following the convention.

Key Takeaways:

  • An ABC-Washington Post poll showed Kerry and running mate John Edwards slightly ahead among registered voters, with 50 percent compared to 44 percent for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
  • A Newsweek poll gave Kerry-Edwards a narrow lead over Bush-Cheney, 49 percent to 42 percent, with 3 percent for Nader-Camejo.
  • A CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll found Bush and Cheney slightly ahead among likely voters, with 51 percent to 45 percent for Kerry-Edwards.
  • A CBS News poll found the Democratic ticket slightly ahead of Bush-Cheney, 48 percent to 43 percent, with Nader at 3 percent.
  • Pollsters predicted before the convention that there would be little, if any, bounce in polls after the gathering.
  • The ABC-Post poll was conducted among 940 registered voters, while the Newsweek poll was conducted among 1,010 registered voters, both with margins of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
  • The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll was conducted among 1,129 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
  • Kerry's campaign took its message to the road, visiting Grand Rapids and Muskegon, Mich., and riding a high-speed ferry across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee.

Statistics:

  • 50% of registered voters support Kerry and Edwards (ABC-Washington Post poll)
  • 44% of registered voters support Bush and Cheney (ABC-Washington Post poll)
  • 2% of registered voters support Nader-Camejo (ABC-Washington Post poll)
  • 49% of registered voters support Kerry-Edwards (Newsweek poll)
  • 42% of registered voters support Bush-Cheney (Newsweek poll)
  • 3% of registered voters support Nader-Camejo (Newsweek poll)
  • 51% of likely voters support Bush and Cheney (CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll)
  • 45% of likely voters support Kerry-Edwards (CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll)
  • 2% of likely voters support Nader-Camejo (CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll)

Sources:

  • ABC-Washington Post poll
  • Newsweek poll
  • CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll
  • CBS News poll
  • Washington Post
  • USA Today

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