National (US) Poll * November 13, 2002 * Gore Runs Best, But Bush Tops - Quinnipiac University

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November 13, 2002 - Gore Runs Best, But Bush Tops All Dems, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; American Voters Say Keep Cheney Or Tap Giuliani

Former Vice President Al Gore runs best among Democrats who might challenge President Bush in 2004, but Bush is a double-digit winner in any hypothetical race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
In a re-run of the 2000 Presidential campaign, Bush tops Gore 53 - 41 percent. Results of other possible matchups show:
Bush beating New York Sen. Hillary Clinton 55 - 38 percent; Bush over Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman 54 - 37 percent;
Gore should be the Democratic nominee, 32 percent of Democratic voters say, followed by 22 percent for Clinton, 11 percent for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, 8 percent each for Lieberman, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Missouri U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt and 4 percent for North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
"Economic doldrums sank his father, who looked unbeatable after Gulf War I, but at this stage George W. Bush trounces any of the Democrats who might run against him," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"A slim majority of Americans voted for Al Gore for President in 2000 and he leads the Democratic pack for 2004. The other half of the Democratic ticket, Sen. Lieberman, is down there with the testing the waters crowd."
Bush should keep Vice President Dick Cheney on the '04 ticket, American voters say 53 - 32 percent, including Republican voters who want Cheney 69 - 16 percent.
If Cheney goes, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani should get the number two spot, Americans say 63 - 24 percent.
American voters split 33 - 32 percent on whether they would want New York Gov. George Pataki to step in if Cheney is out.
"Bush says he's keeping Cheney and most Americans, say he should," Carroll said.
"But Bush might notice that 64 percent of Democratic voters like the idea of a Bush-Giuliani ticket, something most political insiders see as a dream ticket that won't come true."
Bush gets a 62 - 30 percent approval rating, compared to 76 - 16 percent approval in a February 22 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
Twelve percent of Americans are very satisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. today, while 43 percent are somewhat satisfied; 27 percent are somewhat dissatisfied and 17 percent are very dissatisfied.
By a 55- 40 percent margin, Americans say the economy is a higher priority than the possibility of war with Iraq.
Only one percent describe the U.S. economy as excellent, while 28 percent say it is good; 47 percent say it is not so good and 24 percent say it is poor.
"Democrats lost the mid-term elections even though most Americans agree with them that, 'It's the economy, stupid,'" Carroll said.
From November 7 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,069 American voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and nationwide as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 62% 93% 38% 65% 67% 58% Disapprove 30 4 53 27 27 33 DK/NA 8 3 9 9 6 10
2. Now I'm going to name eight Democrats who might run for president in 2004. After I read all eight names, tell me which one you would most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices... Former Vice President Al Gore, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, or Vermont Governor Howard Dean?
Dem Gore 32% Clinton 22 Daschle 11 Lieberman 8 Kerry 8 Gephardt 8 Edwards 4 Dean - DK/NA 8
3. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Al Gore the Democrat, and George W. Bush the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gore 41% 4% 79% 33% 35% 46% Bush 53 94 17 59 59 48 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 3 1 1 DK/NA 3 1 2 2 2 3
4. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat, and George W. Bush the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Clinton 38% 3% 74% 28% 31% 45% Bush 55 96 20 62 62 50 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 2 3 2 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 2 2 2 1 DK/NA 3 1 3 4 3 3
5. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Joe Lieberman the Democrat, and George W. Bush the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lieberman 37% 5% 71% 29% 33% 41% Bush 54 92 21 57 59 50 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 - 1 4 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 6 2 5 9 4 7
6. Thinking about the next presidential election, do you think George W. Bush should keep Dick Cheney on the ticket as vice president or do you think Bush should consider replacing Cheney with a different running mate?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Keep Cheney 53% 69% 41% 52% 57% 49% Replace Cheney 32 16 42 37 30 35 DK/NA 15 15 17 11 13 16
7. Suppose Bush decides not to keep Cheney on the ticket in the next election. Would you like to see Bush select New York Governor George Pataki as his Vice Presidential running mate or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 33% 37% 34% 28% 36% 30% No 32 29 28 38 35 28 DK/NA 35 34 39 34 29 41
8. Suppose Bush decides not to keep Cheney on the ticket in the next election. Would you like to see Bush select former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as his Vice Presidential running mate or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 63% 64% 64% 64% 62% 64% No 24 24 21 26 27 22 DK/NA 13 12 14 10 11 14
9. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 12% 23% 3% 10% 15% 9% Smwht satisfied 43 61 30 43 44 42 Smwht dissatisfied 27 11 39 31 26 28 Very dissatisfied 17 3 27 15 14 20 DK/NA 1 3 - - 1 1
10. Which of these should be a higher priority for the nation right now, the economy or the possibility of war with Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Economy 55% 32% 70% 59% 56% 54% War with Iraq 40 63 25 37 39 41 DK/NA 5 5 5 4 5 5
11. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 1% 2% 1% - 1% 1% Good 28 47 15 26 34 22 Not so good 47 40 48 53 44 50 Poor 24 10 35 21 21 26 DK/NA - - - - - 1
12. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in the United States will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get better 40% 58% 26% 37% 47% 34% Get worse 20 6 31 20 14 26 Stay about the same 36 34 39 37 34 37 DK/NA 4 2 4 6 5 3
13. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as:
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 8% 12% 5% 6% 9% 6% Good 54 66 48 55 58 51 Not so good 27 18 32 30 24 31 Poor 10 4 14 8 8 11 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1
14. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better off 38% 49% 32% 36% 43% 34% Worse off 39 27 46 40 36 41 SAME(VOL) 22 23 21 23 21 24 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1
15. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get better 45% 54% 37% 43% 49% 41% Get worse 8 3 12 7 4 11 Stay about the same 45 42 49 46 45 44 DK/NA 2 2 3 3 1 4
16. Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to spend more on gifts this year than last year, less on gifts or about the same as last year?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More 7% 9% 7% 5% 10% 6% Less 34 22 42 33 26 40 About the same 57 68 50 60 62 53 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 2 1