Maine Poll: Support for Kerry, tax cap dwindle (Kerry 43.5%, Bush 41.0%)

PORTLAND, Maine — John Kerry´s double-digit lead over President Bush evaporated Wednesday in a new statewide poll that also found a drop in support for a controversial plan to cap property taxes.

Bush and Kerry were tied at 35.5 percent, according to the latest quarterly survey by Strategic Marketing Services. But when those leaning toward the candidate were added to those who intended to vote for him, Kerry had a slight edge, 43.5 percent to 41 percent. Ralph Nader had 4.5 percent and 11 percent were undecided.

By contrast, the marketing research firm´s Omnibus Poll in March showed 51 percent intending to vote or leaning toward Kerry, compared to 38 percent for Bush, 4 percent for Nader and 7.5 percent undecided.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D83HEIP01-181.shtml

It's astounding to me.

People here complain about high taxes and then they vote for all of the new bond spending. Earlier in June we approved a policy which would shift more of the burden for education funding onto the state, even though the people for this policy couldn't tell us where the money was going to come from (increased sales tax plus the money tree?) or guarantee that our property taxes would go down.

I really doubt Bush is going to win here. The "booming" economy I keep hearing about hasn't hit Maine yet at all.

I was there two summers ago and am still spoiled for life. I can't eat any California or Mexico lobster. It's all garbage out here.

Bush has been gaining in a variety of state polls in the last few days. Maine should be for Kerry by more than a couple of points--this puts it in the toss-up category.

thats too close for comfort.

I'd think a political poll conducted by an organization named "Strategic Marketing Services" may be suspect.

However, Dubya's hasn't f*cked up big time lately. And the whore media is painting the "hand over of sovereignty in Iraq" as a big win for Dim-Son so he may be enjoying a bounce from that.

Maine called Poppy in third place when he tried for a second term, after Clinton and Perot. Mainers hate Shrub worse than Poppy.

Anyone heard of Strategic Marketing Services before? Push-poller maybe? That poll had crapola about low-carb diets too.

I'm up here in the woods and running into resistance...big time.

The issues are guns and taxes and trust.

I'm working grassroots so don't shot the messanger, but these issues were also a factor in the last election. Gore did not win this state with a majority the last time. Also, where I live they refer to people from the state south of our border as "massholes." I'm not originally from ME or MA, so I get to be a "flat-lander."

Note: Maine splits its eletoral vote according to district.

Run someone on the bottom of the ticket who doesn't own a gun and kiss the second district goodbye.

This news is brought to you from someone who talks to people at the post office and the general store on a daily basis.

they had Kerry ahead by 13 points in March. That's where Kerry should be right now. Same with New Jersey where Kerry is only ahead by six. Not encouraging, but there are still many months for things to fall apart and people to wake up.

I was wondering if there might be a backlash from F9/11. My gut told me there would be, but I didn't know how bad it would be or how long it would last. Ya hafta remember, the right hates this movie as much as the left loves it.

Then again, it might not have anything to do with F9/11.

Like someone else on the DU said, I'll relax when Kerry is reading his inaugural address.

Skarbrowe

N.H. is another.

How can anyone still support Bush?

Anyway, my family in Maine all HATE Bush. When I go to Maine for summer vacation in a few days, I'll have to convince some natives just how bad a president Bush is.