WHYY / West Chester University Presidential Poll

Presidential Hopeful John Kerry Has a 5.3% Lead Over President George W. Bush According to Newly Released Results in WHYY/West Chester University Poll

Presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry has a 5.3% lead over President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania, according to newly released results in the latest WHYY West Chester University Poll. Kerry's lead over Bush has declined by 2% compared to results released on October 10. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

The poll, conducted by West Chester University's Center for Social and Economic Research, questioned approximately 684 registered, likely voters from the state of Pennsylvania as to how they would vote if the election were held today. The sample of Pennsylvania voters was taken between Sunday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 27, 2004. The state has 21 electoral votes.

The most recent poll indicated John Kerry (D) would receive 49.9% of the vote; President Bush would receive 44.6%; another candidate would receive 2%; and 3.5% remained undecided (compared to 5.9% undecided in the October 10 poll). These answers reflect undecided voters who were pressed to make a decision.

The following are poll results relating to election issues:

Which candidate do you feel can do a better job handling the war on terrorism?
48.0% George Bush
44.9% John Kerry
0.6% Another Candidate
6.4% Neither

Which candidate do you feel can do a better job on the economy?
40.0% George Bush
55.1% John Kerry
1.1% Another Candidate
3.9% Neither

Which candidate do you feel can do a better job on taxes?
42.8% George Bush
50.7% John Kerry
1.3% Another Candidate
5.2% Neither

Which candidate do you feel can do a better job on the war in Iraq?
47.0% George Bush
46.1% John Kerry
0.8% Another Candidate
6.1% Neither

Which candidate do you feel can do a better job on health care?
36.5% George Bush
56.9% John Kerry
1.1% Another Candidate
5.5% Neither

If the election race for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania were held today, incumbent Arlen Specter (R) would receive 53.1% of the votes; challenger Joe Hoeffel (D) would receive 33.5%; and another candidate would receive 5.8%. The undecided vote in this race is 7.5%. This also has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7%.

In the race for Pennsylvania State Attorney General, if the election were held today Jim Eisenhower (D) would receive 39.6% of the votes; Tom Corbett (R) would receive 39%; another candidate would receive 3.8%; and 17.5% of voters are remain undecided.

This is the final of three 2004 election polls released by WHYY, the region's leading public broadcasting station, and West Chester University's Center for Social and Economic Research, a highly respected polling center. The survey was directed by Dr. John Kennedy and Dr. R.L. Bernotsky, both in the Department of Political Science, College of Business and Public Affairs at West Chester University. This is the first time that WHYY and West Chester University joined forces in an election poll project.