Poll: Gore gains support as Democrats pay attention to raceBy Keating Holland/CNN
January 14, 2000
Web posted at: 6:26 p.m. EST (2326 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) - As more Democrats have tuned into the presidential race, they appear to have begun to return to the fold, shifting from George Bush to Al Gore, according to a new CNN/Time poll.
Bush continues to beat the vice president in a hypothetical match-up, but he now leads by a 50 percent-45 percent margin. A week ago, Bush had a more comfortable 56 percent-39 percent lead. Bill Bradley has also closed in on Bush, but not by as much.
The poll was compiled from interviews with 1,564 adult Americans, including 1,276 registered voters, 614 registered Democrats and 452 registered Republicans, conducted January 12-13, 2000.
Gore and Bradley's gains coincide with an increase in the number of Democrats who are paying attention to the campaign. One week ago, just 38 percent of Democrats said they were following the election very or fairly closely, but that number has jumped by 9 points. The number of Independents paying attention has also grown, while the number of Republicans who are paying that much attention has remained steady.
That may explain why all of Gore's gains have come among Democrats and Independents (while Bush's only gains since last week have come among Republicans).
Gore's newfound strength is concentrated among two key Democratic constituencies -- lower-income voters (under $35,000) and older voters (over 65 years old).
One piece of good news for Bush: A growing number of Americans say they now know enough about him to decide whether he would be a good president. In June, only about a quarter felt they knew Bush well enough; now half feel that way. Bill Bradley and John McCain are not as well known.
Suppose the election for president in the year 2000 were being held today, and you had to choose between Vice President Al Gore, the Democrat, and Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Republican. For whom would you vote -- Gore or Bush?
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Bush | 50% | 56% |
| Gore | 45% | 39% |
| Sampling error: +/-3% pts |
Suppose the election for president in the year 2000 were being held today, and you had to choose between former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, the Democrat, and Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Republican. For whom would you vote -- Gore or Bush?
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Bush | 51% | 55% |
| Bradley | 42% | 39% |
| Sampling error: +/-3% pts |
How much attention would you say you are paying to the year 2000 presidential election right now?
| Following the Election Very/Fairly Closely |
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Democrats | 47% | 38% |
| Independents | 41% | 35% |
| Republicans | 51% | 51% |
| Sampling error: +/-4% pts |
| Support for Gore among registered voters |
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Democrats | 76% | 67% |
| Independents | 41% | 30% |
| Republicans | 7% | 12% |
| Sampling error: +/-5% pts |
| Support for Gore among registered voters |
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Under 65 | 45% | 39% |
| Over 65 | 48% | 38% |
| Sampling error: +/-6% pts |
| Support for Gore among registered voters |
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Under $35,000 | 50% | 40% |
| Over $35,000 | 40% | 40% |
| Sampling error: +/-5% pts |
Suppose the election for president in the year 2000 were being held today, and you had to choose between former Vice President Al Gore, the Democrat, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican. For whom would you vote -- Gore or McCain?
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Gore | 47% | 46% |
| McCain | 47% | 46% |
| Sampling error: +/-3% pts |
Suppose the election for president in the year 2000 were being held today, and you had to choose between former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, the Democrat, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican. For whom would you vote -- Bradley or McCain?
| | Now | Jan. 5-6 |
| Bradley | 47% | 47% |
| McCain | 43% | 39% |
| Sampling error: +/-3% pts |
Thinking about George W. Bush, do you know enough about him to decide whether he would make a good president, or do you feel you need to know more?
| | Now | June |
| Know enough | 50% | 26% |
| Need to know more | 48% | 73% |
| Sampling error: +/-3% pts |
| Know Enough About... |
| | Yes | No |
| Gore | 57% | 40% |
| Bush | 50% | 48% |
| Bradley | 27% | 70% |
| McCain | 24% | 73% |
| Sampling error: +/-3% pts |
If you were asked to vote for a Democratic nominee for president today, which of the following Democrats would you vote for?
| Gore | 48 |
| Bradley | 26% |
| Sampling error: +/-4% pts |
If you were asked to vote for a Republican nominee for president today, which of the following Republicans would you vote for?
| Bush | 61% | Keyes | 4% |
| McCain | 16% | Bauer | 2% |
| Forbes | 6% | Hatch | 2% |
| Sampling error: +/-4% pts |
| Support for Gore among
registered Democrats who... |
| Paid attention to debates | 80% |
| No attention to debates | 72% |
| Sampling error: +/-5% pts |
|
