Are we there yet?

Dear Editor;

The most plausible reason for John Kerry's small convention bounce in the Newsweek poll was not mentioned by Susan Page nor was she helped by your Editors. The Newsweek poll she reported on was taken over two days, Thursday and Friday. Given the convention finished late Friday night, people were being polled about the convention's impact a day before Kerry's Friday night speech.

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.

Why is was this simple fact too difficult to grasp or mention in your report?

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.

Or maybe those polled didn't from post convention opinions two days prior to the end of a convention and a day prior to the candidate's acceptance speech.

Daphnia