NYT article about Bush poll numbers comparison to Dems misleading

[ProSense]

The political situation has not helped some of the more prominent members of the Democratic Party. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, who was Mr. Bush's opponent in 2004, had a lower approval rating than Mr. Bush: 26 percent, down from 40 percent in a poll conducted right after the election.

And just 28 percent said they had a favorable view of Al Gore, one of Mr. Bush's more vocal critics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/washington/09cnd-poll.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ei=5094&en=ceb3169b40af02d2&hp&ex=1147233600&partner=homepage

Well it turns out Bush "Not Favorable" score was 16 to 20 points higher than that of Clinton, Kerry and Gore. The three Democrats scored higher "Undecided" scores. In other words, people have made up their mind: they don't like Bush. The Democrats' "Not Favorable" scores are probably Republicans.


George W. Bush
Favorable 29%
Not Favorable 55%
Undecided 13%
Haven’t heard enough 3%
Refused 1%


Dick Cheney
Favorable 20%
Not Favorable 49%
Undecided 19%
Haven’t heard enough 12%
Refused --


Hillary Rodham Clinton
Favorable 34%
Not Favorable 35%
Undecided 23%
Haven’t heard enough 9%
Refused --


John McCain
Favorable 31%
Not Favorable 15%
Undecided 25%
Haven’t heard enough 28%
Refused 1%


John Kerry
Favorable 26%
Not Favorable 38%
Undecided 21%
Haven’t heard enough 13%
Refused 1%


Al Gore
Favorable 28%
Not Favorable 39%
Undecided 25%
Haven’t heard enough 8%
Refused --



From pages 19-23 of results:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20060509_POLL_RESULTS.pdf

[AX10]

1. at least it wasn't front page "news".

Seriously, usually this kind of crap makes it onto the front page.

[jillan]

2. I don;t know if I should laugh or cry when I see that 13%

of the people surveyed haven't heard enough about John Kerry to make a decision.

Hello???!!!!???
Wake up people.

Kerry's at a 54% approval rating
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollTrack.aspx?g=167be8b3-bb54-4fb9-bd74-401e630f31d8

[Mass]

3. You realize this poll is for MA only?

[blm]

5. I understand it - it's TRUE - most people still don't know much about JK

because the media made SURE they didn't.

Come on - Clinton was able to introduce himself to most of the American people for NINE HOURS during primetime coverage of his convention. Kerry was given THREE hours at his convention, and the networks gave one of those hours to Clinton.

And the news media has never been so complicit with the GOP as it has been since 1997.

[Mass]

4. Excellent work. Amazing that Nagourney persists in misinterpreting polls.

[glitch]

6. I knew it would be Nagourney without clicking on the link. Bushbot

stenographer. Too bad Colbert didn't mention him by name. :)