Bush Leads Gephardt; Dean Strong 2nd with Dems in KOMU's Missouri Poll [View All]

[Freddie Stubbs]

In the first Missouri test of the 2004 presidential candidates, a survey commissioned by KOMU and other news organizations shows President Bush with a 10-point lead over St. Louis Congressman Dick Gephardt.

Missourians also overwhelmingly support continued involvement in Iraq, though a plurality says there should be limits to that involvement. Voters also say they'll give nearly equal weight to the economy and homeland security/foreign affairs when deciding how to vote for president next year. That could provide an opportunity for the eventual Democratic nominee.

Meanwhile, a sub-sample of Missouri Democrats shows Howard Dean the clear second choice behind favorite-son Gephardt if the primary were held today.

Researchers at the Missouri Poll also asked voters about a hypothetical U.S. Senate matchup between incumbent Republican Kit Bond and Gephardt (assuming Gephardt were to drop out of the presidential race and seek his party's Senate nomination). Under that scenario, Senator Bond would hold a 13-point advantage with more than a year to go before voters actually cast their ballots.

more: http://www.komu.com/html/htmlFall2003/missouripoll091003.html