Jun 10, 3:01 AM (ET)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry has a solid lead over President Bush among voters nationwide, according to a Los Angeles Times poll on Thursday that cited widespread unease over the country's direction, Iraq policies and the economy.
Kerry, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts, led Bush by 51 percent to 44 percent nationally in a two-way match-up, according to the poll of 1,230 registered voters taken from Saturday to Tuesday.
The figures dropped with independent Ralph Nader in the mix: Kerry drew 48 percent in a three-way race and Bush 42 percent, the poll showed.
Majorities disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy and Iraq, despite encouraging news on both recently, the poll said. Fifty-six percent of respondents said America "needs to move in a new direction" because Bush's policies have not improved the country.
However, in an indication of the race's volatility, the newspaper's polling in three fiercely contested states shows the Republican president with a double-digit advantage over Kerry in Missouri, with Nader included, and running even with the presumed Democratic rival in Ohio and Wisconsin.
However, majorities in each state say the country should change direction, the survey said.
Nationally, 55 percent of respondents disapproved of how Bush was handling Iraq, while 44 percent approved of his performance. On the economy, 54 percent didn't approve of the job Bush was doing while 43 percent did, the survey showed.
The newspaper poll said Bush was stronger on his overall job approval rating -- with 51 percent approving to 47 percent disapproving -- because of high marks for the president on the war against terrorism and virtually unanimous support from Republicans and others who consider themselves conservative.
The Times' nationwide poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, while that of the state polls is four percentage points.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry has a solid lead over President Bush among voters nationwide, according to a Los Angeles Times poll on Thursday that cited widespread unease over the country's direction, Iraq policies and the economy.
Kerry, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts, led Bush by 51 percent to 44 percent nationally in a two-way match-up, according to the poll of 1,230 registered voters taken from Saturday to Tuesday.
The figures dropped with independent Ralph Nader in the mix: Kerry drew 48 percent in a three-way race and Bush 42 percent, the poll showed.
Majorities disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy and Iraq, despite encouraging news on both recently, the poll said. Fifty-six percent of respondents said America "needs to move in a new direction" because Bush's policies have not improved the country.
However, in an indication of the race's volatility, the newspaper's polling in three fiercely contested states shows the Republican president with a double-digit advantage over Kerry in Missouri, with Nader included, and running even with the presumed Democratic rival in Ohio and Wisconsin.
However, majorities in each state say the country should change direction, the survey said.
Nationally, 55 percent of respondents disapproved of how Bush was handling Iraq, while 44 percent approved of his performance. On the economy, 54 percent didn't approve of the job Bush was doing while 43 percent did, the survey showed.
The newspaper poll said Bush was stronger on his overall job approval rating -- with 51 percent approving to 47 percent disapproving -- because of high marks for the president on the war against terrorism and virtually unanimous support from Republicans and others who consider themselves conservative.
The Times' nationwide poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, while that of the state polls is four percentage points.
