There's one simple reason they're panicking. We're up to 4 polls now that show it roughly a dead heat, with one just out today showing Bush with a slight lead.
But, where Kerry has bounced back "big time," is in his favorability ratings. CBS has it tied and:
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Before Thursday's debate, 32 percent of registered voters viewed Kerry favorably and 44 percent unfavorably. After the Miami meeting, his favorability mark improved by 8 points to 40 percent, and his unfavorable edged down to 41 percent.
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While 44 percent of registered voters see Mr. Bush favorably, an equal number of voters see him unfavorably.
ABC has Kerry down by 5, but:
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Some views followed. Forty-seven percent now express a favorable opinion of Kerry, up eight points from before the debate. For the first time since the Republican convention, more voters see him favorably than unfavorably, a critical tipping point.
Favorable Views of the Candidates
Date Bush Kerry
7/25/04 54% 49%
8/1/04 50 52
8/29/04 52 43
9/8/04 54 37
9/26/04 53 39
10/3/04 53 47
Bush's favorability rating was unchanged, at 53 percent. But in another measure, the number of "very enthusiastic" Bush supporters lost eight points, to 57 percent, while high-level enthusiasm for Kerry gained eight points, to 50 percent.
Still, Bush continues to lead, not only in favorability and enthusiasm but in the horse race overall: Fifty-one percent of likely voters in this poll support Bush, 46 percent Kerry and 1 percent Ralph Nader — essentially the same as before the debate. Among the broader group of all registered voters, it's 50 percent to 45 percent to 2 percent.