Poll: Bush leads Gore in November matchup

By Keating Holland/CNN

March 13, 2000
Web posted at: 6:25 p.m. EST (2325 GMT)

In the first post-Super Tuesday survey of likely voters, Republican presidential front-runner, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, has a 49 percent to 43 percent lead over Democratic presidential contender Vice President Al Gore, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. Bush's support among likely voters has dropped from 52 percent in February and 57 percent in January, but he retains a lead over Gore among likely voters due in part to support from voters who had wanted to see Arizona Sen. John McCain win the GOP nomination.

The public continues to view Bush -- rather than Gore -- as a strong leader who can manage the government effectively and inspire confidence. Nonetheless, the primary campaign has significantly eroded the public's positive view of Bush in many respects. A year ago, for example, 63 percent said they thought Bush was someone they would be proud to have as president; today that figure has dropped to 53 percent.

The number of Americans who think Bush cares about people like themselves and shares their values has also gone down since last March, as has the number who think Bush agrees with them on issues they care about. In fact, Gore now leads Bush in this category, and the number who think Gore can handle the economy and world affairs better than Bush has jumped since last summer. Gore has an advantage on several reliably Democratic issues, such as the environment and health care, while Bush has an edge on crime, taxes, and moral values.

The poll is based on interviews with 1,006 adult Americans, including 502 likely voters. It was conducted March 10-12 and has a sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, unless otherwise noted.

	Bush	Gore
Now	49%	43%
February	52%	43%
January	57%	38%

Bush	47%
Gore	41%
Sampling error: +/-6% pts

Is someone you would be proud to have as president
	Now	March 1999
Yes	53%	63%
No	42%	28%

Is someone you would be proud to have as president
	Bush	Gore
Yes	53%	50%
No	42%	45%

Cares about the needs of people like you
	Now	March 1999
Yes	51%	59%
No	42%	32%

Cares about the needs of people like you
	Bush	Gore
Yes	51%	60%
No	42%	35%

Shares your values
	Now	March 1999
Yes	52%	58%
No	41%	31%

Shares your values
	Bush	Gore
Yes	52%	53%
No	41%	42%

Is a strong and decisive leader
	Now	March 1999%
Yes	52%	35%
No	42%	49%

Is a strong and decisive leader
	Bush	Gore
Yes	63%	52%
No	30%	42%

Agrees With You on Issues You Care About?
	Now	March 1999
Yes	49%	54%
No	44%	35%

Agrees With You on Issues You Care About?
	Bush	Gore
Yes	49%	54%
No	44%	42%

	Gore	Bush
Environment	59%	31%
Health care	54%	34%
Social Security	49%	40%
Education	48%	41%

	Gore	Bush
Now	46%	45%
June, 1999	35%	55%

	Gore	Bush
Now	46%	44%
June, 1999	36%	53%

	Gore	Bush
Economy	46%	45%
World affairs	46%	44%
Gun issue	44%	42%
Campaign finance reform	43%	38%
Crime	37%	51%
Moral values	39%	49%
Taxes	41%	48%

Bush	43%
Gore	36%

	Gore	Bush
Can manage the government effectively	64%	57%
Is a strong and decisive leader	63%	52%
Inspires confidence	56%	49%
Has the knowledge necessary to be president	71%	77%
Cares about the needs of people like you	51%	60%
Generally agrees with you on issues you care about	49%	54%
Honest and trustworthy	64%	61%
Shares your values	52%	53%
Someone you would be proud to have as president	53%	50%