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Bush, George W.

Vice President Al Gore's Popularity Surges

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Vice President Al Gore has experienced a substantial increase in popularity and is now on par with Governor George W. Bush on matters of character, leadership, and overall personal favorability, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

Key Takeaways:

  • Vice President Al Gore has gained substantial support among women, independent voters, and those from middle-income groups, with 42% of registered voters saying they would vote for him if the election were held today.
  • The presidential race is neck and neck, with 39% of registered voters supporting Governor Bush and 42% supporting Vice President Gore.
  • Forty-seven percent of Vice President Gore's supporters said they had reservations about him, while only 38% of Governor Bush's backers registered concerns about their candidate.
  • Vice President Gore's favorability ratings have increased substantially, with 44% of voters saying they have a favorable view of him, and 29% saying they have an unfavorable view.
  • The public is now equally divided on whether Vice President Gore or Governor Bush will make it to the White House, with a striking shift from a 20-point gap in Vice President Gore's favor just two months ago.
  • Voters are more confident in Vice President Gore's ability to deal wisely with an international crisis, with 49% saying they are confident in him, a gain from 43% in July.
  • Vice President Gore's advertising campaign has received higher marks, with two-thirds of voters saying he is spending more time explaining what he would do as president than attacking Governor Bush.

Statistics:

  • 42% of registered voters support Vice President Al Gore if the election were held today.
  • 39% of registered voters support Governor George W. Bush if the election were held today.
  • 47% of Vice President Gore's supporters say they have reservations about him.
  • 38% of Governor Bush's backers say they have concerns about their candidate.
  • 44% of voters have a favorable view of Vice President Gore.
  • 29% of voters have an unfavorable view of Vice President Gore.
  • 49% of voters are confident in Vice President Gore's ability to deal with an international crisis.
  • 44% of voters are confident in Governor Bush's ability to deal with an international crisis.
  • 63% of voters think Vice President Gore cares about ordinary people.
  • 49% of voters say President Bush cares about ordinary people.
  • More than a third of voters have seen advertisements for Governor Bush, and they are divided over whether they mostly explain things about Mr. Bush or attack Vice President Gore.
  • More than a third of voters have seen advertisements for Vice President Gore, but those who have seen them decisively say Mr. Gore's commercials explain things about him rather than attack Governor Bush.

Sources:

  • New York Times/CBS News Poll
  • 843 registered voters nationwide
  • Conducted Saturday through Monday with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points
  • Weighted to take account of household size, number of telephone lines, and geographic region, sex, race, age, and education.

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