Tennessee Poll: Bush, Kerry in dead heat

[Feanorcurufinwe]

A new poll conducted by Middle Tennessee State University shows that President Bush and likely Democratic nominee, Senator John Kerry are in a statistical dead heat among Tennessee voters.

The poll revealed support for Bush stands at 48 percent, while Kerry polled at 44 percent. With a margin of error of plusor minus four percentage points, the two men are neck and neck.

Bush won Tennessee four years ago in a victory over then-VP Al Gore.
http://www.wbir.com/News/news.asp?ID=17391

[flpoljunkie]

1. Perhaps a trend is in the making in the South...

Thanks for posting.

[Padraig18]

2. This is good news.

:thumbsup:

[Robroy]

3. Our new Democratic Governor

Phil Bredesen can be a 'franchise player" in Tennessee. He has an approval rating in the mid 70s from dems and repubs. Kerry should really reach out to Bredesen who, btw, is also from the northeast. Tennessee is definitely in play.

[Florida_Geek]

4. Six more months of Bush Job losts and TN will be

Blue.

[Melodybe]

5. I think that Kerry will be picking up a few red states

Maybe even MS, we still have paper ballots and a law that says anyone can witness the counting of votes. If me and mine work hard enough all over the state, maybe we can turn this baby blue for the first time in 40 years.

[NewJeffCT]

9. still a long ways off

After all, Gore lost his HOME state in 2000...

[MessiahRp]

20. Gore took TN for granted and paid for it

He did the same w/ Arkansas thinking just being Clinton's VP was enough. Even though Gore won the popular vote he was a piss poor campaigner.

I think TN is one of the states we'll pick off. Besides the aforementioned Governor, we have Harold Ford, Jr. down there and the guy is the future superstar of our party.

Rp

[Padraig18]

6. If TN is in play, Bush is in DEEP doo-doo!

The solid, 'red' South begins to crumble.... :evilgrin:

[mobuto]

10. The South is in play

I saw a South Carolina poll - SOUTH CAROLINA (the most conservative state in the union) - that had Kerry up within the MoE. Will that last? No. But if Bush is ever forced to campaign in South Carolina, things are looking pretty grim indeed for the boys from Crawford.

Arkansas, Lousiana, Florida and Georgia are very competitive. North Carolina too, if Kerry picks Edwards. Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee are also competitive, but less so. And that could change.

Bush has a lock on only four Southern states: Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and South Carolina (it'll swing back to Bush's column eventually).

[Padraig18]

12. Yes.

It's too early to know, of course, but I just feel a landslide in my bones...:)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. But won't all the Tennessee vegans be upset

when they see this picture?

[Padraig18]

8. Yeah, they'll both vote for Nader...

:P

[Mr_Scarecrow]

11. disconnect

Isn't it odd, a little strange, perhaps disgusting, to see him strutting around with a shotgun, knowing his war background? There's a picture in that series where he's walking out into a field with a bunch of other hunters, rifles in their hands. Can Kerry not be thinking of combat? I was never in the service. I wonder how other combat vets feel about hunting. Anyone?

[Padraig18]

13. Tony, my s/o says...

...that it never crosses his mind.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

14. I've never even heard of

a veteran whose combat experience turned him against hunting. I'm sure it's possible, but certainly not common.

How about you, are you opposed to hunting?

[Lars39]

16. There are some vets with PTSD that have a really hard time

in the south in the spring when the leaves first come out. Reminds them of Viet Nam. Some vets I know don't care much for camping/hiking because of their military experience. Don't know if this spills over to hunting or not. :shrug:

[Leilani]

15. It's still early

but this is terrific news.

[NWHarkness]

17. Just making Bush fight for the south is a victory

Every penny he spends trying to hold southern states he ought to be able to take for granted is a penny not spent in Ohio or Missouri or Arizona.

[DrFunkenstein]

22. Excellent Point!

Think he'll bother with the Governator's state? That's a lot of juicy electoral votes...

[GOPBasher]

18. Great news!

Thanks for posting this. TN would just be a bonus 11 eV's. I don't think anyone is counting on that one for Kerry.

[mot78]

19. Tennessee is in play!!!!

Watch Dixie turn blue!!!

[DaveSZ]

21. I think

with John Edwards on the ticket, we can take Tenn.

:)

Oh and Kerry needs to tone down the anti-gun rhetoric. :(

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. Could you cite

some anti-gun rhetoric from Kerry? :shrug:

[Zynx]

24. That is a great picture.

I've gone pheasant hunting too. It's great fun. :)

[Cuban_Liberal]

25. I suspect what he means is...

.. we as a PARTY need to tone down our 'anti-gun' wing.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. I just don't think Kerry is using any anti-gun rhetoric

and I think the rhetoric he is using - for sensible gun safety, while affirming the 2nd amendment - is a winning argument because take the AWB for example - how long has it been around? And it turns out the NRA was exagerating, it was not the first step in a grand scheme to take your guns away. People understand this.

[MoonRiver]

26. Wonder what the polls said at this point in time 4 years ago?

I believe Gore underestimated the ENEMY, and overestimated Clinton's coattails effect, while he simultaneously didn't utilize Big Dog (how dumb was that?).

Kerry has observed and learned. We won't be dealing with those issues again.