Poll: Bush Doubles Support Among Blacks..........

[TC4]

It might not be much, but in a close election like this one who knows:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/20041019/ap_on_el_pr/blacks_poll_3&printer=1

Poll: Bush Doubles Support Among Blacks

Tue Oct 19,12:47 PM ET

By GENARO C. ARMAS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush has doubled his support among blacks in four years and Sen. John Kerry's backing among the key Democratic voting bloc is down slightly from the support Al Gore won in 2000, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The Democratic presidential nominee holds a nearly 4-to-1 margin over Bush in the poll by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based research group that focuses on issues concerning blacks.

Bush got low marks for his handling of the war in Iraq and his overall job performance. The Republican incumbent did gain more support than in 2000 from those age 50 and older and those who consider themselves Christian conservatives.

That helped the president narrow the still sizable gap with Kerry among blacks, who preferred the four-term Massachusetts senator over Bush, 69 percent to 18 percent. The group's poll before the 2000 election found Gore with a 74 percent to 9 percent lead over Bush.

Polls differ on the level of support for Bush among blacks. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll in mid-September found that 80 percent of registered black voters backed Kerry while 7 percent supported Bush.

Exit polls in 2000 showed Gore winning 90 percent of the black vote, with Bush at 9 percent — the lowest support for a Republican presidential candidate since Barry Goldwater garnered 6 percent in 1964.

Michael Whouley, general election manager for the Democratic National Committee, said internal polling didn't reflect the Joint Center's results. "I think on Election Day you will see record numbers (of black voters) go to the polls and vote for John Kerry," he said.

The Joint Center poll of 1,642 adults was conducted Sept. 15-Oct. 10, four days before the third and final presidential debate, and had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The survey included two samples — a general population sample of 850 adults and one of 850 blacks. There were 58 black respondents whose answers were part of both samples.

While Kerry hopes to counter any erosion in support among blacks, he also needs a large turnout among black Democrats to win battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The poll found Kerry receiving as much or more support than Gore among those age 18 to 25, those with less than a high school diploma and those making $60,000 or less.

But Kerry had 49 percent support from black Christian conservatives, down from the 69 percent Gore enjoyed in 2000. Bush was at 36 percent among the group this year, more than tripling the 11 percent he got four years ago.

Republican officials say they are making an effort this year to reach out to the black community. Campaign aides have cited Bush's support of school vouchers, public money that can be used to help pay private school tuition, and support of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage as issues that might win him more black votes.

About 48 percent of blacks surveyed supported vouchers, the same percentage as in the general population, according to the Joint Center poll. About 46 percent of blacks said there should be no recognition of a gay couple's relationship, compared with 37 percent for the population overall.

[Kilmer17]

Wow. If it breaks that way on election day, all else being the same, then Bush may win a landslide.

There was a similar article in the Miami Herald over the weekend about Bush's growing percentage of Latino support.

[Art]

If Bush is over 12 percent of the black vote, he'll win in a massive landslide. I doubt he does nearly as well as this poll suggests.

[luckydevil]

Wow

As Art stated, if Bush can get between 10-15% of the black vote, it will be a blowout.

[Johnny Punani2]

I think it is a valid percentage.

[twa]

We are finally waking up to the fact the Dems have been using us as a prop.The minority population has the same needs and desires for a better life as everyone else,We want better schools,security in our daily lives,and the opportunity to succeed.Many of us have the same values as Bush,who has also put more of us in powerfull positions.The time of the Democrats taking us for granted is about over.:2cents:

[Commander PK]

Originally posted by twa

We are finally waking up to the fact the Dems have been using us as a prop.The minority population has the same needs and desires for a better life as everyone else,We want better schools,security in our daily lives,and the opportunity to succeed.Many of us have the same values as Bush,who has also put more of us in powerfull positions.The time of the Democrats taking us for granted is about over.:2cents:

Good for you twa. Welcome aboard!

[Cskin]

This is great news.... for the African American community may be realizing that their carte blanche support of the Democratic Party has left them with little power and even smaller voice. Once we get the entire population of this country, from all ethnic backgrounds, voting on the issues that effect ALL AMERICANS... we can produce true change in our country.

At least... this is my hope anyway. When I wake up.. I'll apologize for getting everyone's hope up.