New Voters Pick Kerry Over Bush, 50-40

In a poll conducted July 8-20 by the Pace University Poll and Rock the Vote, 50% of newly registered first-time voters would like to see John Kerry as their next president while 40% chose Bush.  The poll had more good news before the convention:

The first of these surveys shows only 39% of new voters say the country is headed in the right direction, whereas 50% say it is headed in the wrong direction. In addition, new voters give President George W. Bush a job approval rating of 49%, which is below the threshold political scientists conventionally consider safe for an incumbent.