Taking Polls With A Grain Of Salt

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, April 8) -- While President Bill Clinton continues to look strong in the polls, analysts say it's a mistake to read too much into surveys taken now, a long seven months before the election.

A recent Pew Research Center survey has Clinton with 53 percent to Sen. Robert Dole's 41 percent.

But what may be more important was the Center's caveat for interpreting the results. "While things are looking up for the Democrats, there may be worrisome parallels to 1992 in Bill Clinton's current lead over Bob Dole. It is almost identical in size and character to George Bush's lead over Clinton four years ago at this time.

"Now, as then, members of the challenger's party have yet to rally around their candidate," the Pew analysis continued. "While Clinton is doing better, there is little indication that voters have given Dole as good a look as they will in the coming months."

Clinton remains ahead in California, where 54 electoral votes -- one-fifth of the 270 needed to recapture the Whie House -- are at stake. He also is in command in New York, another must-win state for any Democratic nominee.

But the likelihood is that today's double-digit Clinton lead will shrink, and political pros on both sides think it will be a tight race.

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Taking Polls With A Grain Of Salt

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