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Poll: Gore, Bush comfortably ahead nationwide

By Keating Holland/CNN

January 21, 2000
Web posted at: 3:16 p.m. EST (2016 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As the primary season is about to get under way, Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush remain comfortably ahead of their rivals for their respective Democratic and Republican presidential races, according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

Not only has Bush maintained a 3-to-1 lead over his nearest rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, he has significantly increased the strength of that support, the poll indicates.

In September, nearly half of Bush voters said they might change their minds and support another candidate. Today, a majority of Bush supporters say they are certain to vote for him.

The poll is based on interviews with 1,496 adult Americans, including 1,304 registered voters, 745 likely voters, 617 registered Republicans and 562 registered Democrats. It was conducted January 17-19.

On the Democratic side, Gore's support is just as deep. He holds a 60 percent-27 percent advantage over former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey, and most of Gore voters say they are certain to support him. But 62 percent of Bradley Democrats say they might change their mind and support Gore.

Voters on both sides of the aisle see little difference between their party's hopefuls.

Only a quarter of all Republicans say that there are major differences between Bush and McCain on the issues; only one in five Democrats say that there are major differences between Gore and Bradley. Democrats and Republicans alike don't think the primary campaigns have been unfair so far.

Only 15 percent of Democrats say that Gore has been attacking Bradley unfairly, and just 23 percent say that Bradley has been attacking Gore unfairly. The results are nearly the same on the GOP side.

Registered Republicans' Choice for Nomination
Bush63%Bauer2%
McCain19%Keyes1%
Forbes6%Hatch1%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Registered Democrats' Choice for Nomination
Gore60%
Bradley27%
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Strength of Support Among Gore Voters
Certain to vote for Gore 54%
May vote for Bradley42%
Sampling error: +/-6% pts

Strength of Support Among Bradley Voters
Certain to vote for Bradley34%
May vote for Gore 62%
Sampling error: +/-6% pts

Strength of Support Among Bush Voters
 NowSept.
Certain to vote for Bush55%41%
May vote for other GOP42%49%
Sampling error: +/-6% pts

Strength of Support Among McCain Voters
Certain to vote for McCain 45%
May vote for other GOP52%
Sampling error: +/-8% pts

Major Differences Between Gore and Bradley?
Yes21%
No65%
Asked of Democrats only
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Major Differences Between Bush and McCain?
Yes25%
No58%
Asked of Republicans only
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Attacking His Opponent Unfairly?
 BushMcCain
Yes13%24%
No66%54%
Asked of Republicans only
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Attacking His Opponent Unfairly?
 GoreBradley
Yes15%23%
No62%54%
Asked of Democrats only
Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Bush continues to lead Gore among likely voters in a hypothetical general election match-up. One reason: barely half of all Americans say that Gore has the personality and leadership qualities a president should have; two-thirds feel that way about Bush.

Which personal qualities in particular? Sixty percent say that Bush inspires confidence; only 44 percent say that about Gore. Sixty-six percent say Bush is a strong and decisive leader; just 42 percent say that about Gore. Sixty-four percent say that Gore is someone they respect -- but even more (73 percent) feel that way about Bush.

Some bad news for Bush: the number of Americans who say that he would do a good job on health care (one of the public's top priorities) and on world affairs has gone down since the fall -- although a majority still say he would do a good job on both issues.

Has the Personal Qualities A President Should Have?
 YesNo
Bush65%28%
Gore52%43%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Strong and Decisive Leader?
 YesNo
Bush66%24%
Gore42%47%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Inspires Confidence?
 YesNo
Bush60%29%
Gore44%47%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Someone You Can Respect?
 YesNo
Bush73%20%
Gore64%31%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Would Bush Do a Good Job Handling Health Care?
 YesNo
Now50%34%
September57%26%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Would Bush Do a Good Job Handling World Affairs?
 YesNo
Now55%28%
September61%22%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Would Do a Good Job Handling Health Care?
 YesNo
Bush50%34%
Gore60%30%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Would Do a Good Job Handling World Affairs?
 YesNo
Bush55%28%
Gore50%36%
Sampling error: +/-3% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for President
Bush53%
Gore42%
Sampling error: +/-4% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for President
Bush49%
Bradley45%
Sampling error: +/-4% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for President
McCain52%
Gore42%
Sampling error: +/-4% pts

Likely Voters' Choice for President
McCain47%
Bradley43%
Sampling error: +/-4% pts

ELECTION 2000

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