Bush Gets Better Ratings in 3 Battleground States Than Nationwide

Kerry draws comparable ratings in Ohio, but his image isn't as strong in Missouri or Wisconsin, where his net positive ratings are 11 and 9 points respectively. When voters with negative opinions were asked why they disliked Kerry, by far the most common response in all three states was a central argument in Bush's ads: that Kerry flip-flops on issues for political advantage.

Favorable attitudes toward Bush and approval of his performance as president aren't much different in the three states than nationally. But perhaps because of the doubts about Kerry, voters in Missouri and Wisconsin give Bush more of an edge than voters nationally on the critical question of which man is the stronger leader.

Solid job growth in recent months also appears to be boosting Bush in Missouri and Wisconsin: Voters in each state don't give Kerry nearly as large an advantage as he enjoys nationally when asked which candidate has better ideas for improving the economy.

And in Missouri, Kerry is running poorly with the same culturally conservative voters who tipped the state to Bush last time, including gun owners and rural families.

Ohio, where job losses during Bush's term have been particularly severe, looks like the toughest challenge for the president among the three states.

Ohio voters give Kerry a bigger lead than those nationally when asked which man had the best ideas for economic revival. Also, just 23% of Ohio voters believe the president's agenda has improved the nation's economy.

Nearly three-fifths of Ohio voters believe the country needs to move in a different direction than Bush is pursuing. So do a majority in Missouri and Wisconsin. That's why Bush can't breathe easily in any of these battlegrounds.

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Associate Times Poll director Jill Darling Richardson contributed to this report.