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Gore "Bounce" in Presidential Race Due to Overall Positive Reassessment of Vice President

Gore "Bounce" in Presidential Race Due to Overall Positive Reassessment of Vice President

by David W. Moore

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- The latest Gallup poll, conducted August 18-19, shows Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush in a dead heat, with 47% of likely voters saying they would choose Gore and 46% opting for Bush. This represents a 17-point swing from a poll conducted before the Democratic National Convention, when Bush led Gore by 16 points, 55% to 39%.

The poll also shows that on the 19 issues and personal characteristics that were measured immediately before and after the convention, Gore improved his position relative to Bush on every measure. In addition, Gore's favorability rating surged by 12 points and his unfavorable rating dropped an equal amount, while Bush's favorable and unfavorable measures moved in the opposite directions. These results suggest that the bounce in Gore's support is part of a more generally positive reassessment of the vice president, and is not necessarily related to any single message emphasized during the four day meeting of Democrats in Los Angeles.

Higher Favorable Rating for Gore, Lower for Bush
Prior to the Democratic convention, Americans said they had a favorable rather than unfavorable opinion of Gore by a 52% to 42% margin, but after the convention, the numbers had improved to a 64% to 30% margin -- a net increase of 24 percentage points. By contrast, Bush's favorability rating dropped from a margin of 67% to 28% before the convention to a 60% to 34% favorability ratio afterward -- a net decline of 13 points.

These changes in the overall favorability rating are reflected in the public's ratings of the two candidates on a variety of issues and personal characteristics. As shown in the table below, Gore now leads Bush on nine of the ten issues measured both immediately before and after the Democratic convention (the exception being national defense), but on all ten issues there was a net swing to Gore of at least 12 percentage points. On the issue showing the most change, Social Security, Americans perceived Bush as better able than Gore to handle the issue by 52% to 38% before the Democratic convention. However, in the post-convention poll, Americans reversed themselves, favoring Gore over Bush by almost an identical margin of 53% to 38%, a net swing of 29 percentage points. Smaller swings in the comparative evaluation of the two candidates are found on all of the other issues as well.

Changes in Which Candidate Can Better Handles Issues

 

Gore Advantage
BeforeDemocratic
Convention
(Percentage points)

Gore advantage
After Democratic
Convention
(Percentage points)

Net Change
in Favor of Gore
(Percentage points)

Social Security

-14

+15

+29

Medicare

- 5

+22

+27

Healthcare

- 3

+24

+27

Economy

-13

+10

+23

Taxes

-19

+ 4

+23

Education

- 9

+12

+21

Handling the Budget Surplus

-13

+ 7

+20

National Defense

-33

-16

+17

The Gun Issue

-11

+ 3

+14

Abortion

0

+12

+12

A similar pattern is found on Gallup's measures of the candidates' personal characteristics. On all nine issues measured immediately before and after the Democratic convention, there has been a net change in Gore's favor, with six issues showing a net change in the lead of between 25 and 30 percentage points. On the characteristic showing the largest change, having a vision for the country's future, Americans favored Bush before the convention by 53% to 32%, but reversed themselves after the convention to favor Gore by 46% to 37% -- a net swing of 30 percentage points.

Changes in Which Candidate Is Perceived to Have Each Characteristic

 

Gore AdvantageBeforeDemocratic
Convention
(Percentage points)

Gore advantageAfter Democratic
Convention
(Percentage points)

Net Change
in Favor of Gore
(Percentage points)

Has a vision for the country's future

-21

+ 9

+30

Is a strong and decisive leader

-32

- 4

+28

Cares about the needs of people like you

-10

+16

+26

Is honest and trustworthy

-16

+10

+26

Is someone you would be proud to have as president

-18

+ 8

+26

Can manage government effectively

-20

+ 5

+25

Understands complex issues

-10

+11

+21

Shares your values

-13

+ 8

+21

Generally agrees with you on issues you care about

- 9

+10

+19

Gore Now Seen as More Selfless and Centrist than Bush
Apart from the 19 issues and characteristics, Gallup asked Americans to rate each of the two major candidates on whether they put their own political interests ahead of the country's interests, or the country's interests ahead of their own interests. Before the Democratic convention, both candidates were rated as more likely to put the country's interests ahead of their own -- Gore by a 7-point margin (45% to 38%) and Bush by a 9-point margin (47% to 36%). After the convention, Americans give Gore a much better rating, with 54% saying he puts the country's interests ahead of his own, and just 36% saying he puts his own interests first. However, Americans now express a somewhat more negative opinion about Bush, with 43% saying he puts the country's interests ahead of his own, and 44% saying he puts his own interests first.

Similarly, before the convention, more Americans viewed Gore as "too liberal" (43%) than "about right" (38%) in his political views. But after the convention the number viewing Gore as about right increased by 10 points to 48%, and the number saying Gore is too liberal declined by eight points to 35%. For Bush, the opposite change took place, with Americans now about evenly divided over whether Bush is too conservative (40%) or about right (41%), while before the Democratic convention, Americans were more likely to view the Texas governor as about right (50%) than too conservative (30%).

One of Bush's criticisms of the Clinton administration during the GOP convention was that the Democrats had wasted the opportunities provided by the good economic times to address America's problems over the past several years. Before the Democratic convention, Americans were more likely to reject that criticism than accept it, by 48% to 32%. And after the convention, Americans rejected that criticism by an even larger margin of 55% to 37%.

These results, showing a surge for Gore on all of the measures included in the poll, suggest that Americans view the candidates holistically -- not necessarily as the sum of different issues and personal characteristics. No single set of measures accounts for the change in opinion, as people now view Gore more positively overall than they did before. Another caveat, however: Just as Bush's post GOP convention bounces on all of the characteristics and issues have been wiped out by Gore's post Democratic surge, Gore's dominance on these measures could also be short-lived.

Survey Methods
The current results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,043 adults, 18 years and older, conducted August 18-19, 2000.

For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Results based on likely voters are based on the sub-sample of 697 survey respondents deemed most likely to vote in the November 2000 General Election, according to a series of questions measuring current voting intentions and past voting behavior. For results based on the total sample of likely voters, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points.

Gallup's current likely voter estimation for 2000 assumes that 50% of the voting age population (VAP) will turn out to vote. (In 1996, turnout among the VAP was 49%. The average turnout rate in all presidential elections since 1980 is approximately 52%.)

Next, we'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this person -- or if you have never heard of him. How about... [Random order]

A.Al Gore


Favor-
able


Un-
favor-
able

Never heard of


No opin-
ion


Favor-
able


Un-
favor-
able

Never heard of


No opin-
ion

2000

(NA) 2000 Aug 18-19

64%

30

*

6

(NA) 1998 Jan 24-25

56%

32

1

11

(NA) 1998 Jan 23-24

55%

33

1

11

(NA) 2000 Aug 4-5

52%

42

1

5

1997

(NA) 2000 Jul 25-26

56%

38

*

6

(NA) 1997 Dec 18-21

50%

37

3

10

(NA) 2000 Jul 14-16

58%

34

1

7

(NA) 1997 Oct 27-29

53%

38

1

8

(NA) 2000 Jun 23-25

52%

39

1

8

(NA) 1997 Oct 3-5

47%

42

1

10

(NA) 2000 Jun 6-7

59%

35

*

6

(NA) 1997 Sep 25-28

51%

39

2

8

(NA) 2000 Apr 28-30

53%

38

1

8

(NA) 1997 Sep 6-7

55%

32

3

10

(NA) 2000 Mar 10-12

59%

36

1

4

(NA) 1997 Jun 26-29

57%

32

1

10

(NA) 2000 Feb 25-27

59%

35

1

5

(NA) 1997 Apr 18-20

56%

34

1

9

(NA) 2000 Feb 20-21

56%

37

1

6

(NA) 1997 Mar 24-26

57%

31

2

10

(NA) 2000 Feb 4-6

57%

37

1

5

(NA) 1997 Jan 3-5

60%

26

2

12

(NA) 2000 Jan 17-19

56%

38

*

6

1996

1999

(LV) 1996 Oct 26-29

61%

31

1

7

(NA) 1999 Dec 20-21

57%

36

1

6

(RV) 1996 Aug 30- Sep 1

61%

27

2

10

(NA) 1999 Dec 9-12

54%

42

*

4

(RV) 1996 Aug 28-29

60%

26

2

12

(NA) 1999 Oct 21-24

58%

36

*

6

(RV) 1996 16-18

59%

30

*

11

(NA) 1999 Oct 8-10

54%

42

1

3

(RV) 1996 Aug 11

59%

29

1

11

(NA) 1999 Sep 23-26

55%

40

*

5

(NA) 1996 Jan 12-15

52%

34

2

12

(NA) 1999 Aug 16-18

58%

37

*

5

1995

(NA) 1999 Aug 3-4

52%

40

1

7

(NA) 1995 Jan 16-18

57%

29

3

11

(NA) 1999 Jul 22-25

53%

35

1

11

(NA) 1994 Sep 6-7

56%

31

2

11

(NA 1999 Jun 25-27

56%

39

1

4

(NA) 1994 Apr 22-24

60%

28

2

10

(NA) 1999 Apr 30-May 2

55%

37

1

7

(NA) 1994Mar 25-27

56%

29

2

13

(NA) 1999 Apr 13-14

54%

39

1

6

(NA) 1994 Jan 15-17

62%

26

3

9

(NA) 1999 Feb 19-21

59%

33

1

7

1993

(NA) 1999 Feb 4-8

61%

31

*

8

(NA) 1993 Nov 2-4

49%

30

--

21

1998

(NA) 1993 Jul 19-21

55%

30

--

15

(NA) 1998 Dec 28-29

57%

28

1

14

(NA) 1993 Apr 22-24

55%

24

--

21

(NA) 1998 Sep 14-15

56%

32

2

10

(NA) 1993 Jan 18-19

63%

22

--

15

(NA) 1998 Feb 13-15

57%

33

2

8

1992

(NA) 1998 Jan 30-Feb 1

62%

31

1

6

(NA) 1992 Nov 10-11

56%

28

--

16

B.George W. Bush

Favorable

Unfavorable

Never heard of

No opinion

%

%

%

%

(NA) 2000 Aug 18-19

60

34

*

6

(NA) 2000 Aug 4-5

67

28

*

5

(NA) 2000 Jul 25-26

63

31

*

6

(NA) 2000 Jul 14-16

64

29

*

7

(NA) 2000 Jun 23-25

60

31

0

9

(NA) 2000 Jun 6-7

64

29

0

7

(NA) 2000 Apr 28-30

61

33

*

6

(NA) 2000 Mar 10-12

63

32

*

5

(NA) 2000 Feb 25-27

57

35

1

7

(NA) 2000 Feb 20-21

58

35

*

7

(NA) 2000 Feb 4-6

63

31

0

6

(NA) 2000 Jan 17-19

66

26

*

8

(NA) 1999 Dec 9-12

68

25

1

6

(NA) 1999 Oct 21-24

71

21

1

7

(NA) 1999 Oct 8-10

70

25

1

4

(NA) 1999 Sep 23-26

71

22

1

6

(NA) 1999 Aug 16-18

68

21

1

10

(NA) 1999 Jun 25-27

69

16

4

11

(NA) 1999 Apr 13-14

73

15

3

9

(NA) 1999 Feb 19-21

69

12

5

14

Next, regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Al Gore or George W. Bush would better handle each of the following issues. How about… [RANDOM ORDER]

A.TheEconomy

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

50

40

5

5

         

2000 Aug 4-5

39

52

3

6

2000 Jul 25-26

40

47

3

10

2000 Apr 28-30

44

43

4

9

2000 Mar 10-12

46

45

4

5

1999 Jun 11-13

35

55

2

8

B.Taxes

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

47

43

3

7

         

2000 Aug 4-5

35

54

3

8

2000 Jul 25-26

36

51

3

10

2000 Apr 28-30

38

47

3

12

2000 Mar 10-12

41

48

3

8

C.SocialSecurity

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

53%

38

4

5

         

2000 Aug 4-5

38%

52

3

7

2000 Jul 25-26

45%

43

2

10

D.Medicare

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

56%

34

4

6

         

2000 Aug 4-5

42%

47

3

8

2000 Jul 25-26

49%

39

2

10

E.Healthcare

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

57

33

4

6

         

2000 Aug 4-5

43

46

4

7

2000 Jul 25-26

47

41

3

9

2000 Apr 28-30

49

37

3

11

2000 Mar 10-12

54

34

3

9

F.Education

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

51

39

4

6

         

2000 Aug 4-5

41

50

3

6

2000 Jul 25-26

45

43

4

8

2000 Apr 28-30

46

41

5

8

2000 Mar 10-12

48

41

5

6

G.The gun issue

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

45

42

3

10

         

2000 Aug 4-5

39

50

3

8

2000 Jul 25-26

37

46

3

14

2000 Apr 28-30

37

43

4

16

2000 Mar 10-12

44

42

2

12

H.Abortion

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

48%

36

4

12

         

2000 Aug 4-5

43%

43

3

11

2000 Jul 25-26

44%

38

3

15

I.National Defense

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

38%

54

2

6

         

2000 Aug 4-5

29%

62

2

7

2000 Jul 25-26

31%

58

2

9

J.Foreign Affairs

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

47

43

3

7

         

2000 Jul 25-26

36

50

2

12

2000 Apr 28-30

42

43

4

11

2000 Mar 10-12

46

44

2

8

1999 Jun 11-13

36

53

2

9

K.Handling the budget surplus

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

48%

41

3

8

         

2000 Aug 4-5

38%

51

3

8

2000 Jul 25-26

38%

49

2

11

L.Campaign finance reform

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

48%

34

6

12

         

2000 Mar 10-12

43%

38

4

15

M.Prescription drugs for older Americans

 

Gore

Bush

Same (VOL.)

No opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

59%

31

3

7

SUMMARY OF GORE/BUSH ADVANTAGE ON ISSUES

 

Gore

Bush

Advantage

       
 

%

%

 

Prescription drug for older Americans

59

31

+28

Healthcare

57

33

+24

Medicare

56

34

+22

Social Security

53

38

+15

Campaign finance reform

48

34

+14

Education

51

39

+12

Abortion

48

36

+12

The economy

50

40

+10

Handling the budget surplus

48

41

+7

Taxes

47

43

+4

Foreign affairs

47

43

+4

The gun issue

45

42

+3

National defense

38

54

-16

 

+ Advantage indicates Gore lead
- Advantage indicates Bush lead

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one applies more to Al Gore or more to George W. Bush. How about… [RANDOM ORDER]

A.Shares your values

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

48

40

5

4

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

38

51

5

3

3

2000 Jul 25-26

41

46

3

4

6

2000 Apr 28-30

40

43

4

7

6

B.Cares about the needs of people like you

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

51

35

7

5

2

           

2000 Aug 4-5

39

49

5

4

3

2000 Jul 25-26

43

43

4

4

6

2000 Apr 28-30

42

39

4

9

6

1999 Jun 4-5

44

44

2

4

6

C.Is a strong and decisive leader

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

42

46

6

3

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

28

60

4

4

4

2000 Jul 25-26

32

54

5

2

7

2000 Apr 28-30

30

50

5

8

7

1999 Jun 4-5

30

59

2

3

6

D.Generally agrees with you on issues you care about

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/ Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

50

40

3

3

4

           

2000 Aug 4-5

40

49

4

3

4

2000 Jul 25-26

42

45

3

4

6

1999 Jun 4-5

47

40

3

2

8

E. Is someone you would be proud to have as president

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

46%

38

7

6

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

34%

52

6

5

3

2000 Jul 25-26

39%

46

4

5

6

F. Can manage government effectively

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

45

40

9

3

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

33

53

7

3

4

2000 Jul 25-26

37

49

5

2

7

2000 Apr 28-30

40

43

5

5

7

G. Has vision for the country's future

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

46

37

12

2

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

32

53

9

3

3

2000 Jul 25-26

38

45

7

3

7

2000 Apr 28-30

38

42

9

5

6

H.Is honest and trustworthy

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

45%

35

11

6

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

32%

48

9

7

4

2000 Jul 25-26

37%

44

5

7

7

I.Understands complex issues

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

47

36

9

3

5

           

2000 Aug 4-5

37

47

8

3

5

2000 Jul 25-26

41

43

6

2

8

2000 Apr 28-30

41

36

9

6

8

J.Is a likeable person

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

43%

36

16

2

3

K. Would fight for the working families

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

56%

32

7

2

3

L. Would bring about change

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

42%

43

8

3

4

M. Would stand up to special interests

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

47%

35

6

8

4

SUMMARY OF GORE/BUSH ON CHARACTER ADVANTAGE

 

Gore

Bush

Advantage

       
 

%

%

 

Would fight for the working families

56

32

+24

Cares about the needs of people like you

51

35

+16

Would stand up to special interests

47

35

+12

Understands complex issues

47

36

+11

Generally agrees with you on issues you care about

50

40

+10

Is honest and trustworthy

45

35

+10

Has vision for the country's future

46

37

+9

Shares your values

48

40

+8

Is someone you would be proud to have as president

46

38

+8

Is a likeable person

43

36

+7

Can manage government effectively

45

40

+5

Would bring about change

42

43

-1

Is a strong and decisive leader

42

46

-4

       

+ Advantage indicates Gore lead
- Advantage indicates Bush lead

For each of the following candidates, please say whether you think his political views are too conservative, about right, or too liberal. How about... [ROTATED]

A.Al Gore

 

Too conservative

 

About
right

 

Too
liberal

 

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18

11

48

35

6

2000 Aug 4-5

12

38

43

7

2000 Jul 25-26 ^

11

35

40

14

2000 Mar 10-12

12

42

36

10

2000 Jan 17-19

13

39

35

13

1999 Oct 8-10

18

40

37

5

B.George W. Bush

 

Too conservative

 

About
right

 

Too
liberal

 

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

40

41

12

7

2000 Aug 4-5

30

50

13

7

2000 Jul 25-26 ^

30

45

12

13

2000 Mar 10-12

30

47

14

9

2000 Feb 25-27

33

38

16

13

2000 Jan 17-19

27

45

12

16

1999 Oct 8-10

27

50

16

7

 

^ Based on 522 National Adults; margin of error +/- 5 Pct. Pts.



Which of the following do you think applies more to Al Gore -- [ROTATED: he puts his own political interests ahead of the country's interests (or) he puts the country's interests ahead of his own political interests]?

 

Puts own political interests ahead

Puts
country's interests ahead

 

Mixed
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

       

National Adults

36

54

3

7

         

Republicans

58

30

2

10

Independents

39

46

4

11

Democrats

16

79

2

3

         

2000 Aug 11-12

       

National Adults

38

45

3

14

         

Republicans

60

25

3

12

Independents

37

41

4

18

Democrats

17

69

2

12

         

(NA) 1996 Aug 23-25 ^

49

44

2

5

         

^ Asked about Bill Clinton.

Which of the following do you think applies more to George W. Bush -- [ROTATED: he puts his own political interests ahead of the country's interests (or) he puts the country's interests ahead of his own political interests]?

 

Puts own political
interests ahead

Puts
country's interests ahead

 

Mixed
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

       

National Adults

44

43

3

10

         

Republicans

16

73

3

8

Independents

47

35

5

13

Democrats

62

27

3

8

         

2000 Aug 11-12

       

National Adults

36

47

4

13

         

Republicans

17

75

3

5

Independents

38

42

5

15

Democrats

53

24

4

19

Which comes closer to your view, during the past eight years: [ROTATED] the Clinton administration has wasted the opportunity to address the important problems facing our country (or) the Clinton administration has taken advantage of the opportunity to address the important problems facing our country?

 

 

 

Wasted the
opportunity

Taken advantage
of the opportunity

 

 

Both/Neither
(VOL.)

 

 

No
opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

37%

55

5

3

         

2000 Aug 4-5

42%

48

7

3

* Less than 0.5%

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one applies more to Al Gore or more to George W. Bush. How about… [RANDOM ORDER]

A.Shares your values

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

48

40

5

4

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

38

51

5

3

3

2000 Jul 25-26

41

46

3

4

6

2000 Apr 28-30

40

43

4

7

6

B.Cares about the needs of people like you

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

51

35

7

5

2

           

2000 Aug 4-5

39

49

5

4

3

2000 Jul 25-26

43

43

4

4

6

2000 Apr 28-30

42

39

4

9

6

1999 Jun 4-5

44

44

2

4

6

C.Is a strong and decisive leader

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

42

46

6

3

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

28

60

4

4

4

2000 Jul 25-26

32

54

5

2

7

2000 Apr 28-30

30

50

5

8

7

1999 Jun 4-5

30

59

2

3

6

D.Generally agrees with you on issues you care about

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/ Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

50

40

3

3

4

           

2000 Aug 4-5

40

49

4

3

4

2000 Jul 25-26

42

45

3

4

6

1999 Jun 4-5

47

40

3

2

8

E. Is someone you would be proud to have as president

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

46%

38

7

6

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

34%

52

6

5

3

2000 Jul 25-26

39%

46

4

5

6

F. Can manage government effectively

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

45

40

9

3

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

33

53

7

3

4

2000 Jul 25-26

37

49

5

2

7

2000 Apr 28-30

40

43

5

5

7

G. Has vision for the country’s future

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

46

37

12

2

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

32

53

9

3

3

2000 Jul 25-26

38

45

7

3

7

2000 Apr 28-30

38

42

9

5

6

H.Is honest and trustworthy

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

45%

35

11

6

3

           

2000 Aug 4-5

32%

48

9

7

4

2000 Jul 25-26

37%

44

5

7

7

I.Understands complex issues

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           
 

%

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

47

36

9

3

5

           

2000 Aug 4-5

37

47

8

3

5

2000 Jul 25-26

41

43

6

2

8

2000 Apr 28-30

41

36

9

6

8

J.Is a likeable person

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

43%

36

16

2

3

K. Would fight for the working families

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

56%

32

7

2

3

L. Would bring about change

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

42%

43

8

3

4

M. Would stand up to special interests

 

 

Gore

 

Bush

Both/

Same
(VOL.)

 

Neither
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

           

2000 Aug 18-19

47%

35

6

8

4

 

SUMMARY OF GORE/BUSH ON CHARACTER ADVANTAGE

 

Gore

Bush

Advantage

       
 

%

%

 

Would fight for the working families

56

32

+24

Cares about the needs of people like you

51

35

+16

Would stand up to special interests

47

35

+12

Understands complex issues

47

36

+11

Generally agrees with you on issues you care about

50

40

+10

Is honest and trustworthy

45

35

+10

Has vision for the country’s future

46

37

+9

Shares your values

48

40

+8

Is someone you would be proud to have as president

46

38

+8

Is a likeable person

43

36

+7

Can manage government effectively

45

40

+5

Would bring about change

42

43

-1

Is a strong and decisive leader

42

46

-4

       

+ Advantage indicates Gore lead
- Advantage indicates Bush lead

For each of the following candidates, please say whether you think his political views are too conservative, about right, or too liberal. How about... [ROTATED]

A.Al Gore

 

Too conservative

 

About
right

 

Too
liberal

 

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18

11

48

35

6

2000 Aug 4-5

12

38

43

7

2000 Jul 25-26 ^

11

35

40

14

2000 Mar 10-12

12

42

36

10

2000 Jan 17-19

13

39

35

13

1999 Oct 8-10

18

40

37

5

B.George W. Bush

 

Too conservative

 

About
right

 

Too
liberal

 

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

40

41

12

7

2000 Aug 4-5

30

50

13

7

2000 Jul 25-26 ^

30

45

12

13

2000 Mar 10-12

30

47

14

9

2000 Feb 25-27

33

38

16

13

2000 Jan 17-19

27

45

12

16

1999 Oct 8-10

27

50

16

7

 

^ Based on 522 National Adults; margin of error +/- 5 Pct. Pts.



 

Which of the following do you think applies more to Al Gore -- [ROTATED: he puts his own political interests ahead of the country's interests (or) he puts the country's interests ahead of his own political interests]?

 

Puts own political interests ahead

Puts
country’s interests ahead

 

Mixed
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

       

National Adults

36

54

3

7

         

Republicans

58

30

2

10

Independents

39

46

4

11

Democrats

16

79

2

3

         

2000 Aug 11-12

       

National Adults

38

45

3

14

         

Republicans

60

25

3

12

Independents

37

41

4

18

Democrats

17

69

2

12

         

(NA) 1996 Aug 23-25 ^

49

44

2

5

         

^ Asked about Bill Clinton.

 

Which of the following do you think applies more to George W. Bush -- [ROTATED: he puts his own political interests ahead of the country's interests (or) he puts the country's interests ahead of his own political interests]?

 

Puts own political
interests ahead

Puts
country’s interests ahead

 

Mixed
(VOL.)

 

No
opinion

         
 

%

%

%

%

2000 Aug 18-19

       

National Adults

44

43

3

10

         

Republicans

16

73

3

8

Independents

47

35

5

13

Democrats

62

27

3

8

         

2000 Aug 11-12

       

National Adults

36

47

4

13

         

Republicans

17

75

3

5

Independents

38

42

5

15

Democrats

53

24

4

19

Which comes closer to your view, during the past eight years: [ROTATED] the Clinton administration has wasted the opportunity to address the important problems facing our country (or) the Clinton administration has taken advantage of the opportunity to address the important problems facing our country?

 

 

 

Wasted the
opportunity

Taken advantage
of the opportunity

 

 

Both/Neither
(VOL.)

 

 

No
opinion

         

2000 Aug 18-19

37%

55

5

3

         

2000 Aug 4-5

42%

48

7

3

* Less than 0.5%


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/2614/gore-bounce-presidential-race-due-overall-positive-reassessmen.aspx
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