I Can’t Explain It

So I’ll just relay it:

Bush led Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, 51 percent to 46 percent in the survey of likely voters, which was conducted Friday through Sunday. The survey interviewed 1,003 adults, including a subsample of 767 respondents deemed most likely to vote in November.

When consumer activist Ralph Nader’s independent candidacy was factored in, the survey’s results were 50 percent for Bush, 44 percent for Kerry and 4 percent for Nader among likely voters.

The previous CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, conducted April 5-8, showed Bush leading Kerry 48 percent to 45 percent among likely voters.

Neither the intensified fighting in Iraq nor the public hearings held by the independent commission investigating the September 11, 2001, attacks appear to have hurt Bush’s overall standing — in part, the current poll suggests, because Kerry has not convinced Americans of his ability to handle those issues.

… When asked which candidate would do a good job handling the situation in Iraq as the next president 40 percent backed Bush, 26 percent backed Kerry and 15 percent thought both would do a good job.

Well, maybe I can explain it. It may have something to do with this:

WASHINGTON — President Bush has spent $98 million in his re-election campaign, nearly as much as he spent to win the Republican nomination four years ago.

In a report to be filed with the Federal Election Commission today, Bush discloses that he raised $184.4 million by the end of March, and his campaign had $86.6 million in the bank.

The spending — rivaling the $101 million he spent in 2000 — reflects heavy television ad buying in February and March, when the campaign put on a blitz aimed at shaping an unfavorable image of Kerry in voters’ minds. The campaign also has been building an organization in key states.

Budget allowing, you know what to do.

AB