Check out these other numbers in that CNN poll

[lancdem]

"The poll indicates Kerry and Edwards hold lesser leads — or no lead at all — when all registered voters are measured. Kerry has a 51-46 edge over the president among registered voters, and Edwards holds a 49-48 edge, a statistical tie."

Our candidates hold BIGGER leads (Kerry 55,43, Edwards 54,44) among likely voters. Traditionally, Repukes do better among likely voters than registered voters, but this is a complete switch.

Also, Bush's approval rating is 51 percent, yet he trails two guys by double digits? I suspect Bush's approval rating among likely voters in this poll is helluva lot lower than 51 percent. It has to be.

[GainesT1958]

1. But remember, "Likely Voters" is usually a more accurate barometer...

Of any political poll--and so often the one our candidates have a tougher time with (and usually the one that has me worried)!

BUt if both John Edwards and John Kerry are doing BETTER than Dub among "Likely Voters", that IS gooooood news, indeed! :D

B-)

[lancdem]

7. That's why I posted this

The fact that we do better with likely voters caught my eye.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Bush's "approval" is no doubt qualified

as in: "well he hasn't blown up the planet yet".

[LSdemocrat]

3. Not necessarily

Just because someone "approves" the way someone is handling their job doesn't mean that they think someone else can't do a better job.

It's actually quite common for a president to have a higher approval percentage than the one they would have in a general election matchup poll. Clinton's approval ratings were consistenly above 60% for most of his second term, yet he would never get anything that high in any head to head matchup.

Edit: spelling

[lancdem]

5. I think that's often true

But the gap for Bush seems so big. When Clinton was at 51 percent, he wasn't trailing Dole, for instance (although Dole was not exactly the world's strongest candidate). I think what's happening with Bush is 20-some percent of Dems approve of Bush but very few support him for reelection.

[buycitgo]

4. his approval ratings in Ohio are also at alltime low......49%, I think

they also showed that Bush won Ohio vs Gore/Nader by 50 49.

Nader got 3

showing that lovely poll again, with dumbo losing by 11-12 points to both candidates

YES!!

now on the economy, and how he's weaseling on the 2.6 million job estimate

Dana Bash holds up the pretty picture book with all the phony numbers.

discusses his distancing himself from the numbers

[lancdem]

6. Do you have a link to that Ohio poll?

That's great news, because that's a state considered a Bush leaner. If he loses Ohio, he'll suffer a landslide defeat, without a doubt.