Here are a few highlights of the CBS News/New York Times poll released this morning:
The President’s job approval is rising. A majority of Americans, 51%, approve, while 42% disapprove, a net increase of 6 points from the 47% that approved and 44% that disapproved in the late February CBS News poll.
The President now leads Kerry by 3 points among registered voters, 46% to 43%. This is a net increase of 4 points since mid-February, when Kerry led by a point.
The President’s support is also more intense than Kerry’s. 76% of the President’s supporters say that their mind is made up, while just 70% of Kerry’s say the same.
President Bush is viewed more favorably by Americans. 43% of Americans view the President favorably, an increase of 3 points since mid-February. 39% view him unfavorably and 17% have no opinion of him.
More Americans now view John Kerry unfavorably. Kerry’s favorability declined, from 37% favorable/28% unfavorable to 28% favorable/29% unfavorable, a net decrease of 10 points since the late February CBS News poll. 41% of voters have never heard of Kerry or have no opinion of him.
A majority of Americans now see Kerry as a man who only says what people want to hear. Just 33% say that Kerry says what he believes, while 57% say that he does not. On the other hand, a majority of Americans, 51%, see President Bush as a man who says what he believes.
It’s funny to watch how Kerry’s favorability ratings keep dropping (almost in tune with the number of negative attacks ads he runs). By the time the election gets here, the only ones voting for him will be the hard core dems and those who just plain don’t like Bush.
