Looking at possible 2004 presidential matchups, Bush leads Dean 51 — 40 percent, compared to 48 — 42 percent October 29. Bush’s lead over other Democratic contenders has grown:
51 – 40 percent over Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, compared to 48 — 43;
51 — 39 percent over Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, compared to 49 — 43 percent;
53 — 38 percent over Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt, compared to 49 — 43;
50 — 41 percent over former Gen. Wesley Clark, compared to 47 — 43.
Bush leads New York Sen. Hillary Clinton 50 — 44 percent, compared to 50 — 42.
If Clinton goes after the nomination, she gets 43 percent of the Democratic vote, the same as the October 29 Quinnipiac University poll, followed by 14 percent for Dean, 9 percent for Clark, 7 percent for Lieberman and 5 percent each for Kerry and Gephardt.
While 38 percent of voters like Bush a lot and 19 percent dislike him a lot, only 3 percent admit they hate Bush.
Looking at Sen. Clinton, 29 percent of American voters like her a lot and 23 percent dislike her a lot, but only 5 percent say they hate her.
“Political commentators describe a high level of hatred against President Bush and Sen. Clinton. If the hatred is there, very few American voters will admit it,” Carroll said.
