June 11, 2004
SHOULDN'T THE AP BE DOING A BETTER JOB?:
Survey: Bush Gets Little Credit on Jobs (RON FOURNIER, 6/11/04, AP)
The U.S. economy has gained about 1.2 million jobs in the last six months, but word hasn't trickled down to most Americans, according to voters in a survey by The Associated Press.They're too focused on the war in Iraq and other news - and too busy trying to make ends meet - to notice the upbeat economic development. Few voters seem to be giving President Bush credit for the new jobs or other signs of recovery.
"I don't think he's created anything," said Lonnie Steele, 57, an undecided voter from East Flat Rock, N.C. "I know a number of people who are educated people, and they are working two or three minimum-wage jobs just trying to put groceries on the table and keep their families alive."
An Associated Press survey of 788 registered voters conducted Monday through Wednesday shows that while they may be gaining confidence in the economy and Bush's performance, 57 percent said the nation has lost jobs in the last six months. The Labor Department has reported just the opposite - nearly 1.2 million jobs gained in half a year.
"The message hasn't gotten out," said Andy Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center. "It takes a while for national changes to get down to the people level."
Which, along with the successes in Iraq, is why the current presidential poll numbers are nothing to be concerned about. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 11, 2004 6:51 PM
Yep. There's a lag. Right now, the lag reflects the weeks the media spent pounding the President over Abu Ghraib. There will be another lag before new poll numbers reflect the American people coming to the conclusion that all the nasty things the press now says about Bush were once said about Reagan. And that both were right about the economy (tax cuts reviving the same) and their own foreign policy challenges.
Posted by: kevin whited at June 11, 2004 7:21 PMThe economy was smoking at this time in 1992 but the media managed to supress it with detrimental effect. I read this site for its optimism but I am skeptical that the good news in Iraq and at home will sink in unless the administration pounds home the message. I am skeptical that its comm team is up to the task.
Posted by: JAB at June 11, 2004 9:31 PMJAB - I am concerned also but I keep reminding myself that Dukakis was well ahead of Bush Sr in the polls as late as August. The good news on the economy and Iraq, assuming it continues, should sink it before November even with the media being anti-Bush.
Posted by: AWW at June 11, 2004 9:46 PMWho was the Bush official that got slammed for predicting 1.2M new jobs by years end?
If I recall correctly, he didn't take a beating for being a pessimist.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at June 11, 2004 9:50 PMJeff:
Gregory Mankiw:
http://www.brothersjudd.com/blog/archives/013204.html
Posted by: oj at June 11, 2004 10:00 PMAll that is needed are a few simple ads with good graphics, showing how job growth is accelerating, and even what kinds of jobs are being created. They don't need to run these ads until August (right after the Dem. convention, and right before the GOP convention). And if George Bush himself starts touting the figures in his speeches, even the press will have to cover it. Don't worry.
Posted by: jim hamlen at June 12, 2004 12:37 PM