Kerry Support Found Across Wide Range of Democrats

[Freddie Stubbs]

MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 28 — For two weeks in a row, Senator John Kerry has demonstrated broad support among Democratic voters across economic, ideological and demographic lines.

Surveys of voters entering the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 19 and leaving polling places in New Hampshire on Tuesday showed that Mr. Kerry did better than his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination in practically every voter category: among men, women, the young, the old, Catholics, Protestants, rich, poor, those with advanced degrees, those with only a high school diploma, voters who consider themselves fairly liberal and those who say they are moderate or conservative.

Even when his opponents made specific appeals to voter groups — as Howard Dean did with those under 30 and those who opposed the Iraq war, for example — they were generally unable to do any better than Mr. Kerry, and sometimes did worse.

In New Hampshire, Democrats from union households and those with veterans in the family favored Mr. Kerry, the junior senator from neighboring Massachusetts. So did voters who have a gun in their homes.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/29/politics/campaign/29SURV.html

[girl gone mad]

1. Yes,

but over half of those who voted for Kerry said they didn't think he stands up for what he believes in.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. But they still voted for him

Perhaps that is not the most important factor these people use to determine in who to vote for.

Do not assume that everyone uses the same mental process as you do to decide who to vote for.

[Kahuna]

3. Freddie. Are you supporting Kerry now? A month ago...

you were telling us all to give up and go home because Dean had the nomination nailed. }(

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. I'm kind of undecided right now, leaning toward Kerry

i started out as a Kerry supporter. But for the first 11 months of last year he ran one most dismal campaigns.

I was very impressed with what Dean did. Not only did Dean raise more money than anyone else, he built an army of volunteers that dwarfed any other campaign's. Unfortunately for Dean, it appears that he does not do very well when the heat is turned up.

So now I am probably going to be backing Kerry. It looks like I am back to exactly where I was a year ago. And it has been one heck of a ride.

[CWebster]

6. The heat has been turned up on Kerry?

As far as political fortunes go, the most important thing is to appeal to the most shallow constituency who is apt to fall for the ladest fad and the most publicized spin. Oh and fear is a big one--ABB is formulated around it, with the cynical ambition to paint other candidates as less electible vs Bush.

If you really care about the direction this country is heading, then you would worry about how vulnerable Kerry is due to his baggage and his lack of political charisma. Gore was a giant by comparison.

[Kahuna]

7. Just let that be a lesson to you..

Somewhere on that thread I told you that people don't really get involved and pay attention until the primaries are upon us.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. This is a great thing and bodes well for the general

He's pulling across the whole spectrum. He can score well in all the demographics. He will really have Bush plugging his own holes everywhere.