Why aren't Bush's ratings supposed to climb after RNC?

[thuper]

I don't get this.

Going into the DNC last month, we heard for weeks that Kerry's approval ratings should jump by as much as 15% from the convention.

Besides the fact that it would have been impossible with voters alread split 48/47 going into the convention;

Why is no one saying Bush's ratings are supposed to rise from his convention? I have not heard one single person saying that Bush's approval should go up even ONE PERCENT.

Why is there such a high bar for Democrats and such a low one for the right?

 

[shiner]

Incumbent President. Traditionally they don't get a large bump out of their convention.

 

[thuper]

But I see this as the point where he will be introducing his policy for the next for years to the entire country. Since many people aren't alolowed to see his campaign speeches, it will be new material for a lot of people. Is it not going to help him out in the slightest?

 

[shadowninja]

It seems that a lot of people have already made up their minds about the election, and the lack of bounce from the DNC showed that. Therefore, pundits don't expect a big bounce out of the RNC. I don't think it's anything about setting the bar lower.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: thuper
But I see this as the point where he will be introducing his policy for the next for years to the entire country. Since many people aren't aloud to see his campaign speeches, it will be new material for a lot of people. Is it not going to help him out in the slightest?

Most likely not.....it's normally that way. The incumbent is well know.....people more or less already have their minds made up. The challenger is usually unknown by the masses for the most part. That why they usually get more of a bump after their convention. Now....in years when there is no incumbent the bump goes for both coming out of their respective conventions.

 

[XZeroII]

I think it's just because he is already well known. Everyone knows his policies and what he plans to endorse.

Kerry, OTOH, was expected to clarify his position on just about everything and that was supposed to win voters over to his side.

 

[tallest1]

Because Bush has pretty much given up at making himself looking good and has instead taken aim at making Kerry look worse

 

[zephyrprime]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Incumbent President. Traditionally they don't get a large bump out of their convention.

yep

 

[LordMagnusKain]

the argument is that the monkeys didn't want to eat the pile of oranges, so the likelihood is they won't want to eat the pile of bananas.

because the only explanation for them not eating the oranges is that they are full, not because monkeys don't respond well to oranges.

It's illogical and the same sort of thinking that said Howard Dean was going to come in second, at worst, in Iowa.