For starters, here are some telling numbers from a September Fox Poll (see the whole thing in pdf):
Which candidate do you think has a better vision for the future of the country?
[SCALE: 1. George W. Bush 2. John Kerry 3. (Both) 4. (Neither) 5. (Not sure)]
Bush | Kerry | (Both) | Neither) | Not sure) |
43% | 43 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Which candidate do you trust to provide the country with moral leadership?
Bush | Kerry | (Both) | Neither) | Not sure) |
46% | 40 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Do you think George W. Bush has a clear plan for handling Iraq?
Date | Yes | No | Not Sure |
21-22 Sep 04 LV | 43 | 50 | 7 |
3-4 Aug 04 | 43 | 50 | 7 |
21-22 Apr 04 | 41 | 50 | 9 |
Do you think George W. Bush has a clear plan for creating and protecting jobs in the United States?
Date | Yes | No | Not Sure |
21-22 Sep 04 LV | 38 | 52 | 10 |
3-4 Aug 04 | 34 | 56 | 10 |
Do you think George W. Bush has a clear plan for Handling health care?
Date | Yes | No | Not Sure |
21-22 Sep 04 LV | 35 | 55 | 10 |
Do you think John Kerry has a clear plan for creating and protecting jobs in the United States?
Date | Yes | No | Not Sure |
21-22 Sep 04 LV | 49 | 39 | 12 |
3-4 Aug 04 | 51 | 35 | 14 |
Do you think John Kerry has a clear plan for handling health care?
Date | Yes | No | Not Sure |
21-22 Sep 04 LV | 47 | 40 | 13 |
See the results at the end about approval for handling of Iraq. Pretty damning really. Based on what I see as important issues Bush should have lost big! And Kerry, if nothing else, made garnered more support for the issues he led with during the debates.
And here's anecdotal support from a couple of random sources for what I believe is the predominant logic governing majority pro-Bush voting:
Exhibit A by Tonja H. McGill :
I voted for George W. Bush.
I realize this statement from a young black female is probably very shocking, in fact my roommate nearly fainted away when I told her.
Now, before my mailbox overflows with hate mail let me share why. My family is democratic and I too am registered as a democrat, so we had many debates about the Presidential election. My dad was most adamant against my voting for Bush. He thoroughly listed all the many reasons why I should not vote for Bush: Bush is going to ruin the economy; Bush is not for the Black American; and plenty others. And you know, I eventually had to concede to some of the issues. I totally agree with some of the things everyone says about Bush.
'Well', you may say, 'what then possessed you to vote for Bush'. I voted for him on one issue and one issue alone: Abortion. I am a fervent pro-lifer, and I do not believe women should have the right to 'lawfully' take the life of their child: a human being.
And
Exhibit B from a
Mr. Ampleman:
I'm not happy with the moral issues at all with the Democrats," continued Mr. Ampleman, who works as a welder at an aerospace company. "The Republicans will hurt me in the long run in providing for my family, but it's probably more important to watch out for the unborn and that kind of stuff.