For the faint of heart actually worried about John Kerry’s inflated poll numbers (CNN/Gallup/USA Today survey showed Kerry defeating Bush 53 percent to 46 percent; Newsweek survey showed Kerry defeating Bush 48 percent to 46 percent) here’s some relief. Robert Moran, vice president of a Republican polling firm says this:
Kerry’s Free Media Bonanza
These surveys were taken in the midst of John Kerry’s free media bonanza. The press has a new frontrunner and is simply relieved not to have Dean at the top of a losing ticket. Instead, they have focused on biography (Vietnam service) and horse-race coverage (”he’s electable”).
This breathless coverage has given him the equivalent of a more modest national convention bounce. He should enjoy it.
Kerry’s numbers are being inflated by positive coverage that will eventually melt like March snow. It is probably not a stretch to state that the only things the average voter knows about John Kerry at this point are:
He fought in Vietnam and is occasionally hugged by veterans.
He looks like a president.
He is a Democrat.
He is more “electable” than Howard Dean.
He is angry with George W. Bush.
This will change.
Moran gives a good analysis about Kerry’s impending defeat, but I’m still angry confused about President Bush’s plan for illegal immigrants.
