Bush Leads Kerry by 6 Points in Ohio

CLEVELAND - President Bush has a 6 percentage point lead over John Kerry in Ohio, considered a must-win state rich in electoral votes, a newspaper's statewide poll has found.

Bush led Kerry 47 percent to 41 percent among Ohio voters surveyed for the poll, which The Plain Dealer released Saturday night. Three percent of voters said they favored independent Ralph Nader, although he has yet to qualify for the Ohio ballot. Nine percent were undecided.

Washington, D.C-based Mason-Dixon Polling and Research interviewed 1,500 registered voters who plan to vote in November for the poll, which was conducted May 20-25. The poll has a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points, the newspaper said in its Sunday editions.

Those who favored Bush cited his moral character and his stewardship over the war on terrorism and homeland security as reasons for their support. However, the president received low marks for his handling of the economy and the war in Iraq.

"I'm very concerned about what a change of administration would mean, primarily about security," said Bob Saul, a retired General Electric marketing manager from Cincinnati who participated in the poll. Saul said he remains concerned about the economy.

About three of every five people who support Kerry said they favor him because they dislike Bush, not because of who Kerry is.

"I'm more anti-Bush, and I'm not really that strong on Kerry," said Burel Eding of Toledo, who participated in the poll. "I feel we need a change. I supported Bush on the invasion in Afghanistan, but I don't think he's doing enough on the economy."

Bush's lead comes despite the fact that about half of those surveyed said they disapprove of his handling of the economy and the poll found the economy is the No. 1 issue among Ohio voters.

And Bush tops Kerry even though less than half - 45 percent - approve of his handling of the war in Iraq.

Fifty-three percent of those who favor Bush said his character and integrity are their main reasons for supporting him. About a third said they plan to vote for him first and foremost because they like the leadership he has shown in the war on terror.

"Bush's strength is the 'strength' issue," said Karlyn Bowman, who studies opinion polls at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. "People do believe nationally that the Bush administration has made this nation safer."

Kevin Madden, a Bush campaign spokesman, declined to comment on any of the poll's specific findings.

"Ohioans look to their president for leadership and clarity on the issues that are important to them," he said. "That is a message that we look forward to delivering throughout this campaign in Ohio."

Twenty-one percent of those surveyed who plan to vote for Kerry cite his policies as the most important issue; 16 percent say his character and integrity is the top issue.

Kerry's campaign says it knows it must educate voters about the senator and his positions.

"Recent polling in Ohio has fluctuated, and it is still very early to rely on anyone particular poll," says Jennifer Palmieri, Kerry's Ohio spokeswoman. "These numbers reflect a overall dissatisfaction with Bush and an opportunity for John Kerry. We have to work hard to make sure people know who John Kerry is."

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