The Mood of the Country Revisited
A Commentary By Douglas Schoen
Rasmussen Reports has just issued an important new analysis of data about attitudes toward the leading candidates for President that bears further discussion.
The Rasmussen data show that opposition to all of the leading Presidential candidates--both Democrats and Republicans--has been growing throughout the campaign.
Overall, five of the seven leading candidates, Democrats and Republicans alike, have core oppositions of over 40%. The two candidates whose negative ratings are under 40%--Thompson and McCain have core opposition of 39%.
Indeed, the average hardcore opposition to the seven candidates is up to 43% from 38% in August.
Their positive rating (core support) is now only 23%
The implications of this are clear. The American people are reflecting frustration, not only with the individual candidates, but also with the process.
Other polling, by Rasmussen and others, show the President and Congress, as well as institutions like the Supreme Court have significant negative ratings. Just 21% believe the country is moving in the right direction. The Rasmussen numbers on the candidates show that the cynicism of the American people is only hardening and deepening.
Douglas Schoen is a founding and former partner of Penn Schoen & Berland, and a Fox News Contributor.
Schoen was President Bill Clinton's research and strategic consultant during the 1996 reelection campaign.
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