Bay State Poll Results: State Residents Flock to Favorite Son; Worry about Iraq and Deficit.

News Editors/Political Writers

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2004

Overview of Bay State Poll:

-- more than half (54%) polled felt it was not worth going to war

with Iraq

-- more than half (62%) polled do not want to see George W. Bush

re-elected to another term

-- nearly half (46%) polled are very concerned about the size of

the federal budget deficit

-- more than half (61%) polled would reduce the deficit, even if

it means eliminating some of the tax cuts

These are findings from the Bay State Poll, a quarterly survey of Massachusetts residents, conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research at Merrimack College. Five hundred and one (501) randomly selected state residents over the age of eighteen were interviewed by telephone between January 28 and February 5, 2004. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 4.5%. Detailed results and methodological information are available at www.merrimack.edu/polling.

THE KERRY COMEBACK (287 Registered Democrat/Independent Likely Voters)

In thinking about the upcoming democratic presidential primary, if
that election were held today in Massachusetts, for whom would you
vote?
                                                     November February
                                                     2003     2004
John Kerry                                           22%      60%
Howard Dean                                          23%       8%
Don't Know                                           32%      14%

-- 79% of likely voters see John Kerry as the strongest candidate

against Bush.

-- Supporters cite issues (23%), electability (17%), and

experience (16%), as their primary reasons for selecting

Kerry.

VIEWS ON PRESIDENT BUSH REMAIN STEADY

Would you like to see George W. Bush reelected to another term or
not?
                                                     November February
                                                     2003     2004
Yes                                                  28%      30%
No                                                   60%      62%
Don't Know                                           12%       7%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling
his job as president?
                                                     November February
                                                     2003     2004
Approve                                              38%      39%
Disapprove                                           54%      54%
Don't Know                                            8%       7%

THE WAR IN IRAQ

All in all do you think it was worth
 going to war with Iraq or not?

Worth It                           39%
Not Worth It                       54%
Don't Know                          7%

How would you say things are going for the US in its
 efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq?

Very Well                                          3%
Somewhat Well                                     35%
Somewhat Badly                                    38%
Very Badly                                        21%
Neither/Don't Know                                 4%


In thinking about the war in Iraq are you more likely to focus on our
success in capturing Saddam Hussein and liberating the Iraqi people,
or doubts about the Bush administration's reasons for going to war in
the first place?

        Success                             38%
        Doubts                              54%
        Neither/Both/Other/Don't Know        8%

TAX CUTS AND THE BUDGET DEFICIT

Do you think the recently passed federal tax cuts have
          27%   Helped the economy
          32%   Had no effect
          29%   Hurt the economy
          12%   Don't Know

How concerned are you about the size of the federal budget deficit?
          46%   Very concerned
          41%   Somewhat concerned
           7%    Not very concerned
           5%    Not concerned at all
           2%    Don't Know

Which of these ideas comes closest to your own position on this issue?
          61%   Reduce the deficit, even if it means eliminating some
                of the tax cuts
          27%   Keep the tax cuts, even if it means increasing the
                budget deficit
          12%   Other/Don't Know

STATE ISSUES

At the state level on, one important issue facing Massachusetts is the
 legal status of homosexual couples. Which of the following proposals
 comes closest to your own position on this issue?

                                                     November February
                                                         2003     2004

The state should not legally recognize the union of
 homosexual couples in any way                             21%     18%
The state should legally recognize the civil union of
 homosexual couples, giving them similar rights to
 married couples, but not calling these civil unions
 marriages                                                 38%     43%
The state should legally recognize the marriage of
 homosexual couples                                        37%     33%
Don't Know                                                  5%      6%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mitt Romney is handling
his job as governor?
                                                     November February
                                                          2003    2004
Approve                                                    49%     47%
Disapprove                                                 36%     37%
Don't Know                                                 15%     16%