Poll: Kerry-McCain would easily beat Bush-Cheney

[Emboldened Chimp]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

May 28, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- The hypothetical pairing of Democrat John Kerry and Republican Sen. John McCain holds a double-digit lead over the Republican ticket of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, a new poll finds.

Kerry-McCain has a 14-point advantage over Bush-Cheney among registered voters, 53 percent to 39 percent, in the latest CBS News poll. The results were released Thursday.

The lead is nearly double the edge Kerry alone enjoys over Bush.

McCain set off speculation in April when he said he would consider an offer from Kerry, a Senate colleague and fellow Vietnam veteran, to be his running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.


http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/05/28/poll/index.html

[freetobegay]

1. What the fuck?

Hasn't this record broke yet?

[struggle4progress]

11. I'd have to agree this song and dance is getting old.

[BiggJawn]

25. It's gettin' REAL old....

So, let's see now, I wonder how a Kerry-Eugene V. Debs ticket would do? Or maybe Kerry-Churchill? or Kerry-Eminem? or Kerry-Trudeau (Yeah! DOONESBURY in da House!)

Or maybe Kerry-Bono, or Kerry-Courtney Love, or Kerry-Lance Armstrong, or Kerry-Powell, or Kerry-Olberman, Or Kerry-Springer, or Kerry-Ventura, or Kerry-Buchanan, or......

Yeah, it's getting pretty old.

And I'm getting tired of seeing it, which makes Karl Rove smile.

[smirkymonkey]

30. I swear, if one more person brings

this up I am going to explode.

Hello people!!!! McCain is an f**ing REPUBLICAN!!! This is DEMOCRATIC Underground.

Start your Kerry/McCain threads somewhere else!

[struggle4progress]

32. Oooh! Well, then, how about Kerry and Zell Miller?

Zell could keep on endorsing Bush while he ran with Kerry.

[smirkymonkey]

38. Grow up!

[enki23]

2. the only useful thing to learn from this (potentially)

is that your choice of VP really *could* have a major effect on your campaign.

[Cassandra]

3. Give it a little time...

and Kerry-Godzilla will be able to beat Bush-Cheney.

[underpants]

4. CBS poll has Kerry beating Bush 49%-41& by himself

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1678929&mesg_id=1678929

[ronnykmarshall]

5. Godzilla is from Japan.

They'll have to change the Constitution.

[Dark]

19. I don't know, Godzilla might get us into a war with Mothra and Japan.

[salinen]

21. No

Godzilla has already been promised an ambassadorship to Japan in a Kerry administration.

[librechik]

6. this is mainly people wishing McCain had won the 2000 nom

and I wish the Clowns who keep pushing this meme would effin STOP!

McCain is antiabortion! He can NEVER get on a Dem ticket.

[napi21]

18. You're right, I did want McCain to win in 2000

I even changed my registration to Pub so I could vote for him in the primaries. BTW, I changed it right back to Dem. after the voting. I don't think your argument that he is anti abortion is even a valid reason to disqualify him. I'm anti abortion too. I just don't believe in forcing my opinions on others via secular laws! Are you telling me I shouldn't consider myself a Dem. because my personal opinions differ from yours?

I happen to like McCain because he seems to be honest when he speaks, most of the time. There are very few politicians who do that, and no other pubs that I can think of.

If you want to call me a clown, I don't care. I've certainly been called much worse than that in the past.

[AndyTiedye]

34. Anti-Abortion but Pro-Choice is Fine

[goclark]

35. If he is so honest

then it is not even an issue that he would consider running with Kerry.
On two occasions last week I heard him say on TV that he "would not consider being a candidate for VP with Kerry." I also heard him say that he "would be supporting GWB."

Since he would never speak anything but the truth, we don't have to worry. We can now keep the VP choices to Democrats who are proud to be Democrats.

[librechik]

36. of course a Dem can be anti abortion

I don't even care if they're antichoice. They just shouldn't run for office as a dem, IMO. Pro choice is my bottom line, & McCain is not prochoice.

and I wasn't talking about you as a clown. That's what I call the jokers on TV who try to amuse us by cheapening our political discourse. You are welcome to hold any beliefs you wish.

I like McCain too, but I wouldn't vote for him. Maybe if he changed affiliation and it was an all or nothing situation. But he is a Pub and will stay a Pub, so he has my respect but not my vote.

[nono]

7. Could Be

But it would be hard for me to vote this ticket.

[Beetwasher]

8. Strategy Strategy Strategy Strategy

Repeat after me: STRATEGY!!!

Relax people, McCain will NEVER be on the ticket, but this is BRILLIANT strategy!!!

[justjones]

13. Es-plain, Lucy....

Beetwasher,
Can you explain how this is a "strategy" that benefits Kerry? I don't doubt what you're sayin, I'm just curious to know.

:freak:

[Beetwasher]

22. In The Eyes Of Many People Kerry Is Being Associated

with a popular, moderate (relatively) republican.

This makes Kerry the ACTUAL bi-partisan uniter in many people's eyes by the mere fact that he would even CONSIDER a Repub on the ticket. This is a crucial image for the swing voters and moderate repubs who are fed up w/ chimpy but need to be disabused of the notion that Kerry is some "whacko e. coast liberal". The floating of this theoretical ticket and the big hullabaloo about it effectively does this and does it WELL without the convoluted and twisted explanations. Kerry doesn't have to say a word to defend against the charges of "liberal". This PR stunt does it for him and it does it powerfully. It's BRILLIANT.

McCain will NEVER be on the ticket, this is all just a brilliant ploy!

[justjones]

41. Thanks!

I just couldn't wrap my head around it, but now I get it. Makes perfect sense!

[glitch]

42. I am with justjones, I didn't get it either. Thought it was just nuts

thanks for explaining.

[Orangepeel]

24. I'll give you my take on why it is a smart strategy

McCain is never going to be on the Democratic ticket. It won't be offered and he wouldn't accept. However, speculation about it does at least three things:

1. It makes Kerry seem like a uniter who can work with the other party. Personally, I don't think there is enough partisanship from our side, but most people don't feel that way. That's why accusations of partisanship and playing politics are damaging in the mainstream

2. McCain can deny he's supporting Kerry and claim he's endorsing bush all he likes, but if the media keep talking about the possiblilty of a Kerry/McCain ticket, the impact of McCain's support for bush will be weakened. People will think there's some fire behind the smoke and doubt McCain's committment to bush

3. This might be a good stepping stone to get dissaffected repubs to support Kerry. There's a psychological theory called "assimilation/contrast." When people are exposed to an idea that is too far away from what they currently believe, they tend to reject it and their old beliefs might even become stronger. However, when new ideas are presented gradually, they can assimilate the new information and their old beliefs and perceptions are dragged slowly toward the new idea. Maybe that 7% or so of people who say they'd vote for bush over Kerry but for Kerry/McCain over bush/cheney have been moved a little bit. They've taken the first step of seeing an option where they wouldn't vote for bush.

The danger in this, of course, is that people like me who think that inviting a republican on the ticket would be the death knell for the Democratic party (not to mention a death sentence for Kerry at the hands of some anti-choice nutcase who would suicide bomb themselves to get McCain in office), will freak out at the possibility and bolt the party now. But I don't think this is too likely. First of all, Kerry WON'T pick McCain. Second, anybody who dislikes McCain for being a reactionary has to hate bush and is likely to come back once the real VP pick is announced.

[justjones]

43. Thanks to you too.....

Thanks for clarifying this....I just couldn't wrap my head around why it mattered either way, especially how it benefited Kerry, but it makes sense now. I agree, McCain is a freak, but highly respected on both sides, at least compared to Bush. I can see how this could possibly rub off on Kerry at least in the eyes of those who would favor Bush over Kerry, but a Kerry/McCain over Bush/Cheney.

I just hope this is all smoke and mirrors because I will lose all hope in the Democratic Party, and subsequently America if I have to choose a Kerry/McCain ticket. Unfortunately, I support Kerry by default at this point because I think any Democrat will be better than Bush. McCain's pro-War, anti-Choice ways would probably shatter what little hope I have.

However, just like Bush hid that he was a radical right-wing freak before he took office, I'm hoping Kerry is a radical leftist freak who is keeping his views on the down low so he can get into office. He will then implement a radical agenda that will make the right-wing shit in their collective pants and make America a better place for all of its citizens.....ahhh...yesss....er, um, sorry, I was having a lucid dream......

[CJCRANE]

50. "Assimilation/contrast" is a good term

Basically, you're saying it's a step-by-step approach. I've actually noticed this a lot in the media and politicians. I think this is the reason why a lot of Dem politicians tend to go along half-way with Repub policies, like for instance saying "I agreed with the war in Afgganistan, but the invasion of Iraq was a step too far", or "I agreed with the invasion of Iraq, but the post-war planning was incompetent".

[lastliberalintexas]

40. Strategy my rear

This makes us look extremely weak in the eyes of the average voter. THEY don't see it as strategy- they simply see that we think we need a repub to win. We don't have faith in our own elected officials or in the power of 2 Dems to win (and govern?), so why should they? Weak, incompetent and ridiculous.

But then again, that *does* pretty much describe our party for the last few years...


You people crying "strategy" seem to forget that the average voter doesn't put that much thought into this process.

[mstrsplinter326]

9. I won't vote for McCain, as well-intentioned as he seems to be (n/t)

[TahitiNut]

10. More from the Land of Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda.

... a land that's many miles away from the Land of Is.

[onehandle]

12. Tenth time this has been posted.

And who the F*ck cares.

The base would not stand for it.

A Republican would put a bullet in Kerry's skull five minutes after inauguration.

[BearFlagDemocrat]

14. Good and bad

As much as I disagree with McCain and think he's sold out his principles by suborning himself to BushCo., I think it's pretty obvious that if Kerry chose him Bush would have to start packing his bags tomorrow. A bipartisan ticket would be the genius outside-the-political-box event that could be billed as an honest attempt to unite the country rather than divide it. It would just appeal to too many independents and moderates to lose.

And, I must admit, McCain as VP is infinitely better than Bush as President and Cheney as VP. Not as good as Kerry/Edwards, but more electable, I think.

[bhunt70]

15. Im in the minority but I think it would be a good idea

and it would probably help some of the deadlock and partisan crap.

[Bridget Burke]

17. "help some of the deadlock" yeah, right

It would be so much easier for all the Republican bills to be voted in. Sorry, we don't need that.

And we don't need a target drawn on Kerry, either.

[aquart]

16. WHO paid money for this poll, please?

This is simply disgusting.

[KansDem]

20. Hey, what if McCain ran on BOTH tickets???

There has been some speculation that Cheney might be dropped from the GOP ticket in 2004, ostensibly due to health reasons but in reality to put someone else on with Bush to add weight and pull up Bush's sagging poll numbers.

Then there are polls such as this one that indicates Kerry would get a significant boost if he had McCain on with him.

So? Have McCain run on both tickets...

I can see it now, Bush and Kerry would have to share McCain for campaign appearances, sort of like the way divorced parents have to share their children: Bush on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, Kerry on Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday, with both candidates taking McCain every other Sunday.

This probably wouldn't work, but would sure make for one helluva vice-presidential debate...

(edited for clarity)

[AmandaRuth]

23. A rep from the McCain camp was on the radio

this morning and spoke to this idea with condescending disgust. Kept saying McCain in a rethug not a (snarl, sneer) a Demoooocrate.

Personally, I wouldn't trust any reThug within an inch of us, the master McCain answers to will never be a Democrat and certainly not any Democrat ideals.

[liarliartieonfire]

27. I do see the strategy factor..as explained above..but I was

releived to hear John McCain state a very certain "NO" when discussing a possible Kerry VP.

I don't think we should ever ever ever allow a Republican to get that close to the power of the Presidency.
I just don't think they are capable of delegating that power without compromising some of that Presidential Power.

Its like handing an alcoholic the keys to your liquor store. "Here buddy, its all yours, anything you need".

Republicans are just a kind of pathological criminals.

Maybe pathological, criminal-thinking type people are somehow drawn to the self-serving ideology of the Republican Party.

I just don't think we should let them near the Presidency.
There are other positions they would be good at, but their power needs to be kept under constant vigilance.

[Domitan]

26. Let him stay as a GOP

He could do good work for the Democrats as the Trojan Horse in the GOP camp, hopefully.

[bif]

28. Can I install some software that eleminates McCain for VP threads?

This is getting very old.

[Claire Beth]

29. That ticket won't happen though! n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

31. Oh, great...yet another completely useless Kerry-McCain thread. Thanks.

[robbedvoter]

33. In related news, Rush put Hillary question in Luntz poll

GOP pollster Luntz revealed Limbaugh's role in new survey
http://mediamatters.org/items/200405250004

Republican pollster Frank Luntz, CEO and president of Luntz Research Companies, appeared as a guest on the May 21 FOX News Channel's Hannity & Colmes to present the results of his new poll that purportedly showed that a plurality of Democrats say if they had the choice they would prefer Senator Hillary Clinton over Senator John Kerry as their presidential nominee. Luntz admitted radio host Rush Limbaugh had a role in instigating the survey:

More dirty tricks that only show how polls manipulated primaries and are used to discourage, insult, influence ticket...

[donotpassgo]

46. I wish Rush would just pronounce his love for Hillary Clinton

masterbate to her picture, and just SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT THE CLINTON'S FOR ONCE!!!! Sheesh.

[rexcat]

37. Intellectually I understand that a Kerry / McCain ticket

would probably get rid of bush* and company but on a visceral level I am having problems with the ticket. This is based on McCain's far right views on women's reproductive health issues and other issues that are important to me. There has to be another Democrat that could pull the Democratic ticket together (but such a ticket escapes me at this time). Damn!

[Darranar]

39. McCain is an anti-choice establishment republican...

he should stay off Kerry's ticket.

[John_H]

44. LOL!! Jeez the freeper trolls and one-percenters hate these threads!

You folks have nothing to worry about. It ain't gonna happen.

[loathesomeshrub]

45. How about this? Kerry finds someone else with the last name McCain

and runs with him, and all kinds of stupid people think its John McCain, and Kerry wins by a landslide?

[Zhade]

47. Keating Five. Black Mesa. Anti-Choice. Groveller to neocon traitors.

No.

NO.

NEVER!

The. Fucking. END.

[burrowowl]

48. If the Dems can't win

as Dems and not DIMS!
Then we are sunk. A Kerry/McCain ticket would mean that the Corp$ are disenchanted with Bu$hie's image and will try for a new one.
Of course, even though I will vote Kerry if he is the Dem candidate, I do have my doubts.
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE :shrug:
Were that we had some real :dem:

[truthisfreedom]

49. the purpose of these stupid polls is to simply distract people.

who gives a rat's ass? Kerry will select a veep soon and that will be that. McCain has made it very clear that he supports bushco.

[burrowowl]

51. I just read yesterday that

McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone. I know that people born in US Territories or Military Bases abroad even thouh they have US citizenship cannot be for President. Can anyone explain why McCain can??????