Bush and Kerry neck-and-neck in new poll
14/04/2004 - 16:00:43President George Bush appears vulnerable on several fronts, including support for whether he deserves re-election and worries about the country’s direction, a new poll shows.
But it also reveals that Democratic rival John Kerry has been unable to capitalise on those weaknesses
The result, six months before the November 2 presidential election, is a tight race between a vulnerable incumbent and a challenger who has not yet defined himself, according to the Battleground 2004 poll released today.
Bush and Kerry were virtually tied – with Kerry at 49% and Bush at 48%.
The poll found Bush retains an advantage on personal qualities like strong leadership, and on such issues as his handling of the campaign against terrorism and the war in Iraq.
Kerry holds a slight edge on such qualities as compassion, and leads Bush on handling the economy and health care.
Both have similar favourable ratings, with slightly more than half of voters viewing each favourably.
But on the intensity of those feelings, Bush has the advantage, with 38% saying they feel strongly for Bush and 26% saying the same about Kerry.
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