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February 1, 2004
Don't Forget About President Bush!
After all, if it didn't look like Bush was vulnerable, the race for the Democratic nomination wouldn't be nearly so interesting. And it would certainly be of much less importance.
Recent developments have surely increased that vulnerability. For example, the Kay revelations have brought back, front and center, the sheer emptiness of the adminstration's case on Iraq's WMD. And the violence of the Iraq occupation has exploded: January, in fact, turned out to be the second-deadliest month for US troops since "major combat operations" were declared to be over. So much for the claim that Saddam's capture would break the back of the Iraqi resistance.
The latest Newsweek poll confirms that increased vulnerability. Bush's approval rating is down to 49 percent, with 43 percent disapproval, his worst rating ever in this poll. And, for the first time in this poll, a majority (54 percent) believes the Bush administration misinterpreted intelligence about Iraq.
Bush also fares poorly on a standared re-elect question, with 49 percent saying they do not want to see Bush re-elected, compared to just 45 percent who say they do. Moreover, Democratic front-runner John Kerry actually edges Bush, 48 percent to 46 percent, in a head-to-head matchup.
No wonder the Democratic electorate is so focused on electability: Bush stands an excellent chance of being beaten this November by the right Democrat with the right message.
But which Democrat with which message? Stay tuned!
Posted by Ruy Teixeira at 06:27 PM | link
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