ad info

 
CNN.com Allpoliticsallpolitics.comwith TIME
   
 

 

  Search
 
 

 
POLITICS
TOP STORIES

Analysis indicates many Gore votes thrown out in Florida

Clinton's chief of staff calls White House over vandalism reports

Gephardt talks bipartisanship, outlines differences

(MORE)

TOP STORIES

India tends to quake survivors

Two Oklahoma State players among 10 killed in plane crash

Sharon calls peace talks a campaign ploy by Barak

Police arrest 100 Davos protesters

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

HEALTH

TRAVEL

FOOD

Texas cattle quarantined after violation of mad-cow feed ban
ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
*
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Poll: Bush holds slight lead over McCain in South Carolina

Voters say Texas governor is more electable than McCain

February 14, 2000
Web posted at: 5:38 p.m. EST (2238 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Texas Gov. George W. Bush currently holds a 49 percent to 42 percent lead over Sen. John McCain of Arizona among likely voters in this Saturday's GOP presidential primary in South Carolina, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

Bush's key strengths appear to be his organization and the perception among likely Republican primary voters think he is more electable than McCain. Moderates and independents remain the core of McCain's support, but after a first flush of enthusiasm immediately following the New Hampshire primary, these voters now seem less likely to participate in Saturday's primary than a week ago.

McCain also has a lead among veterans, abortion-rights supporters, and voters who live in the coastal areas of the state -- but each of those groups is less than a third of all likely voters, and Bush has wide advantage among the remaining segments of the GOP primary electorate.

By a 59 percent to 29 percent margin, likely primary voters say that Bush has a better chance of beating the Democratic nominee in November than McCain does. McCain's major advantage over Bush is that likely voters say they admire him more than the Texas governor by a 46 percent-32 percent margin. But McCain has not been able to translate that into votes.

Three in 10 voters say that they have been contacted by the Bush organization -- and most of those say they will vote for Bush. By contrast, McCain's organization has contacted only 20 percent of likely voters, and a majority of those contacted by the McCain camp plan to vote for his rival.

Negative campaigning has not strongly influenced the race so far. Bush and McCain are both viewed favorably by more than three-quarters of all likely voters, and most say that neither Bush or McCain have attacked the other unfairly.

And likely voters equally assign blame for the negative campaign -- 30 percent say Bush started the negative campaign; 30 percent say McCain did, and 24 percent say that both are equally to blame or neither one is responsible.

The poll is based on interviews with 552 likely Republican primary voters. It was conducted Friday through Sunday.

Likely Voters' Choice for Nominee
Bush
49%
McCain
42%
Keyes
5%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Who Has Best Chance To Win in November?
Bush
59%
McCain
29%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Who Do You Admire More?
McCain
46%
Bush
32%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Likely Voters' Opinion of Candidates
 
Bush
McCain
Will keep economy strong
51%
31%
Necessary experience
47%
35%
Vision for the future
44%
38%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Likely Voters' Opinion of Candidates
 
Bush
McCain
Strong leader
44
45%
Reformer
40%
44%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Attacked the Other Candidate Unfairly?
 
Yes
No
McCain
38%
53%
Bush
35%
55%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Who is More Responsible For Negative Campaigning?
McCain
30%
Bush
30%
Both/Neither
24%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Have You Been Contacted By Anyone Working For...
 
Yes
No
Bush
30%
69%
McCain
20%
79%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for Nominee
 
Republicans
Independents/Democrats
Bush
59%
35%
McCain
34%
55%
Sampling error: +/-7% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for Nominee
 
Conservatives
Moderates/Liberals
Bush
54%
41%
McCain
38%
49%
Sampling error: +/-7% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for Nominee
 
Veterans
Non-veterans
Bush
43%
51%
McCain
48%
40%
Sampling error: +/-8% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for Nominee
 
Seacoast
Interior
Bush
40%
53%
McCain
49%
39%
Sampling error: +/-8% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for Nominee
 
Oppose Abortion
Support Abortion
Bush
53%
37%
McCain
38%
55%
Sampling error: +/-8% pts

 
ELECTION 2000


CALENDAR
See how quickly the primary and caucus season will take off with this calendar.


VIDEO
Watch selected policy speeches and campaign commercials from the major presidential candidates.


WHAT'S AT STAKE


HISTORY
If you have a Flash-capable browser, take a look at the history of key events during the primary season.


CANDIDATE BIOS
Quick takes on the White House hopefuls.


RACES
If you need to know who's up in 1999 or 2000 and what seats are open launch this quick guide.


THE STATES
Who are your elected officials? What is the past presidential vote and number of electoral votes in your state? Find out with these state political and election facts.


POLLS
Check out the latest numbers or dig back into the poll archives.


WHO'S IN-WHO'S OUT
Who is running, who isn't running and who has already dropped out? Check out our tally sheet.


FOLLOW THE MONEY
How much money have the candidates raised? Here are their quarterly reports to the Federal Election Commission.


E-MAIL UPDATES
Receive news about a candidate by e-mail.

Your e-mail address: Mind-it Button


MESSAGE BOARDS



MORE STORIES:

Monday, February 14, 2000


 Search   

Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.