Poll: Southern voters favor Bush over Kerry
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Voters in 11 Southern states favor President Bush over Sen. John Kerry and they trust Republicans more on moral and cultural issues, according to a poll released Tuesday. But when it comes to the economy, Democrats might have an edge.
The poll of 802 voters conducted by the University of North Florida showed that 51 percent of Southern voters prefer Bush in a matchup against Kerry, who is the leading Democratic candidate for the presidential nomination. Kerry was preferred by 42 percent of respondents.
“Bush leading in the South should not be surprising,” said Matthew Corrigan, the political science professor at the Jacksonville school who conducted the poll. “The region as a whole is strong for Republicans on a presidential level and it has been since the 1970s.”
Despite the favorable numbers, Bush campaign spokesman Reed Dickens said the president expects a very close election. He said Kerry, D-Mass., knows that his support may not be strong in the South.
“His own record shows he’s on the wrong side on the economy and the war on terrorism and his rhetoric shows he’s not worried about the South in the first place,” Dickens said. “John Kerry, in his own words, said he can become president without winning a state in the South.”
The Kerry campaign said it had seen the poll, but did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
The poll found that 69 percent of Southern voters disapprove of same-sex marriage, which Bush is hoping to ban through a constitutional amendment. And 41 percent said they trust Republicans more on moral and cultural issues, compared to 30 percent who trust Democrats more.
But the poll also indicates that Democrats could fare better in the South if they are able to steer the campaign toward economic issues.
“If the election is focused on morality and religious issues, then the Republicans have a big advantage in the South, but if it focuses on the economy, Democrats can remain competitive,” Corrigan said.
Democrats led Republicans 43 percent to 40 percent when voters were asked who they trust more on economic issues. The difference falls within the poll’s 3.5 percent margin of error.
But half the respondents named Democrats as the party that better represents working people while one-third named Republicans. And Democrats led Republicans 41 percent to 36 percent when voters were asked who helps the middle class more.
“The president’s hopes rest on whether he can divide the country to his benefit and our goal is to unite the country on a better vision on jobs, a better vision on health care, a better vision on education and a better vision on national security,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Tony Welch. “If we can do that, we’re going to win.”