No news is good news this time.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politic...ll-kerry_x.htm

Poll: No boost for Kerry after convention
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

Last week's Democratic convention boosted voters'
impressions of John Kerry but failed to give him the
expected bump in the head-to-head race against
President Bush, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll
finds. (Related item: Poll results)

John Kerry campaigns Sunday in Bowling Green, Ohio.
By J.D. Pooley, Sentinel-Tribune

In the survey, taken Friday and Saturday, Bush led
Kerry 50%-46% among likely voters. Independent
candidate Ralph Nader was at 2%.

The survey showed Kerry losing 1 percentage point
and Bush gaining 4 percentage points from a poll taken
the week before the Boston convention.

The change in support was within the poll's margin of
error of +/-4 percentage points in the sample of 763
likely voters. But it was nonetheless surprising, the first
time since the chaotic Democratic convention in 1972
that a candidate hasn't gained ground during his convention.

USA TODAY extended its survey to Sunday to get a fuller
picture of what's happening.

A Newsweek poll taken Thursday and Friday gave the
Democratic ticket a 49%-42% lead. Over three weeks, that
reflected a 4-point "bounce" for Kerry, the smallest ever in
the Newsweek poll.

Among registered voters in the USA TODAY poll, Kerry and
Bush each had 47%. Bush was up 4 points, Kerry unchanged
from the pre-convention survey.

Analysts said the lack of a bounce may reflect the intensely
polarized contest. Nearly nine of 10 voters say their minds
are made up and won't change. "The convention, typically
a kicking-off point for a party, is now merely a reaffirmation"
of where voters stand, said David Moore, senior editor of the
Gallup Poll.

"In a race this tight, the polls are going to be all over the place,"
said Stephanie Cutter, Kerry's communications director. "Most
importantly, voters now clearly trust John Kerry more than Bush
to lead and defend America." [more wishful thinking]

But Matthew Dowd, chief strategist for the Bush campaign, said
"history doesn't bode well" for Kerry. Since World War II, the
three challengers who have unseated presidents held clear leads
after their conventions.

Democratic leaders have expressed delight about the convention,
which showed a united party and emphasized national security.
Those surveyed gave the convention and its candidate high marks:

Kerry's acceptance speech Thursday was rated as "excellent" by
26%, a more positive response than Bush got in 2000. A 44%
plurality said the Democrats were "about right" in criticizing Bush;
30% said they went too far.

Views of Kerry's personal characteristics and leadership improved;
views of Bush didn't change much. Bush's edge in handling terrorism
was shaved to 12 points from 18. In a switch, Kerry now is trusted
more to handle the responsibilities of commander in chief, by 51%-
46%.

Kerry's military service is seen as a plus. A 52% majority says it
would help him be an effective president. More than one in four
say it makes them more likely to vote for him.