While Bush retains the support of nearly six in 10 Americans, the
public believes Democrats would do a better job on domestic issues,
such as the economy, prescription drugs for the elderly, health
insurance, Medicare, the budget deficit, immigration and taxes.
And Bush has lost the advantage on education policy he once enjoyed.
As a result, Bush finds himself in a statistical dead heat with the
opposition nine months before the election.
When matched against a generic Democratic presidential candidate --
the party held its first nominating contest last night in Iowa -- Bush
narrowly wins, 48 percent to 46 percent.
On the question of who is trusted to handle the nation's major
problems, Bush is roughly even with Democrats, ahead 45 percent to 44
percent -- down from an 18-point advantage Bush enjoyed nine months
ago.
Bush's speech tonight will address this anxiety by giving greatest
emphasis to his domestic proposals.
Aides said the president will reverse the order of his annual address
from last year -- when he closed with the case for war in Iraq -- to
put his closing emphasis on domestic issues such as health care, the
economy, Social Security and immigration.
That election-year emphasis closely follows the public's wishes.
The poll found that worries about domestic issues have increased in
the past year while concerns about terrorism, Iraq and the economy
have dipped.
More Americans want Bush to discuss domestic programs (40 percent)
than want to hear him discuss the campaign against terrorism (15
percent).
From The Washington Post, 1/20/04:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29858-2004Jan19.html
Domestic Issues Hurt Bush in Poll
By Richard Morin and Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, January 20, 2004; Page A01
President Bush delivers his State of the Union address tonight to an
American public that has become broadly dissatisfied with his domestic
agenda, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
___________________________________________________________
All this dissatisfaction with Bush and 10 months to go. Better start
waggin' yer dog, Karl.
Harry
.
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