Polls Show John Kerry Losing Ground Nationwide, Bush More Trustworthy

Polls Show John Kerry Losing Ground Nationwide, Bush More Trustworthy

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 25, 2004

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- While polls in key battleground states still show a close election, President Bush is beginning to break away from Massachusetts senator John Kerry nationwide just as he is ready to reap the benefit of the week-long spotlight at the Republican convention.

In July, a poll by the Los Angeles Times newspaper found the candidates tied. A new poll shows the Bush-Cheney ticket leading the Kerry-Edwards ticket 47 to 44 percent. Three percent of the registered voters the Times polled back independent candidate Ralph Nader.

Also released on Thursday, a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll of likely voters shows the president with a 48 to 46 percent lead over Kerry.

Part of the reason for the change is the increase in voters' perception that Kerry is either dishonest on some political issues or that he changes positions too frequently.

While the candidates were tied on month ago in the Los Angeles Times poll on the question of who has the honesty and integrity to be president, Bush now holds a 46 to 39 percent advantage on the key question.

For pro-life advocates, Kerry has found himself in hot water on the issue of embryonic stem cell research.

Kerry was criticized earlier this month for saying President Bush had instituted a "ban" on funding for embryonic stem cell research when, in fact, the Bush administration has spent $190 million on research using adult stem cells.

Meanwhile, Kerry staffer Sarah Bianchi misstated Kerry's position last week. She told an Associated Press reporter that Kerry is "'absolutely not'' suggesting creating embryos for the sole purpose of research."

However, in July, Kerry co-sponsored S. 303 -- a bill that does just that. Bianchi would not respond to requests for comment from LifeNews.com.

State battleground polls are bearing out the change in public opinion.

President Bush has pulled ahead to a two percent lead in Florida according to polls by Rasmussen and Gallop. Kerry's lead in Michigan has shrunk to only three percent, according to a Survey USA poll released today.