For immediate release

BUSH AND KERRY IN DEAD HEAT AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS IN MONEY/ICR POLL

One-third of Americans say the war on terrorism is the lead issue
in Presidential election

(New York New York July 29, 2004)  The July MONEY/ICR poll has found that among registered voters in the United States, John Kerry and President Bush are in a dead heat. When asked which candidate they would most likely vote for if the Presidential election were held today, the numbers were 43% (Bush) vs. 43% (Kerry). The MONEY/ICR poll also found that over one-third of respondents felt that the war on terrorism is the lead issue that they will pay the most attention to when deciding whom to vote for in the Presidential election.

Lead issues affecting the country

When asked what issue will they pay the most attention to when deciding who to vote for as President of the United States, 36% selected the war on terrorism, with health care weighing in at 25% and the creation of new jobs at 20%. Only 9% of Americans chose the federal deficit and even fewer chose the price of gasoline (3%) as a lead factor when they decide for whom to vote.

Respondents under the age of 35 were more likely to view the creation of new jobs as important (28%) when compared to those age 35 and over (16%). Women (29% vs. 20% men) and those with a household income under $50,000 (28% vs. 20% $50,000 plus) were more likely to focus on health care when deciding who to vote for. Americans with a household income $50,000 or over were more likely to view the war on terrorism (46% vs. 30%) and the federal deficit (12% vs. 6%) as important vs. those with a household income under $50,000.

Republicans vs. Democrats

Half of all Republicans (53%) will pay most attention to the war on terrorism when deciding who to vote for this fall, more than Democrats (30%) or people who consider themselves Independents (32%).  Among Democrats (30%)and Independents (28%) health care is equally as important as the war on terrorism.  Only one-fifth of the Democrats and Independents (22%) will focus on the candidates proposals for the creation of new jobs when deciding their vote, more so than their Republican counterparts (13%).

Who would do a better job as President?

When it comes to who would be a better manager of the number one issue - the war on terrorism - significantly more Americans selected George W. Bush over John Kerry (49% vs. 34%).

Senator Kerry outscored President Bush on three other issues:

	Managing health care costs (Kerry 44% vs. Bush 33%).
	Lowering gasoline prices (Kerry 40% vs. Bush 31%).
	Managing Job Creation (Kerry 44% vs. Bush 36%).

Americans perceive Senator Kerry and President Bush as comparable in their ability to manage the deficit (Kerry 41%, Bush 35%).

Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

When asked if they think it is worth opening up Alaskas Artic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, when gas prices reach $3, $5 or $10 per gallon, half (52%) of Americans feel it is worth opening up the Refuge. More than one-quarter (27%) feel gas prices are already high enough to support opening it up. Four-in-ten Americans (40%) feel no price is high enough to consider opening Alaskas Artic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. 

Overall, men (57%), Republicans (70%) and those living in the South (63%) were most likely to support opening up Alaskas Artic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.

About the Poll

The MONEY/ICR poll was conducted with a nationwide sample of 1022 Americans between July 21 - 25, 2004. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.  Presidential candidacy question is based on 857 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

The poll was fielded by International Communications Research (ICR) using its EXCEL telephone omnibus survey of adults. ICR is one of the nation's leading market and opinion research firms and is headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania. For more information on this methodology please go to: http://www.icrsurvey.com/omni_srv.html.

MONEY is published by Time Inc.  With a circulation of 1.7 million and a total readership of more than 7 million, MONEY is the largest financial publication in the world.

To arrange an interview or for more information, please contact:

Amy Mahfouz at 212-522-6282 or amy_mahfouz@timeinc.com
Melissa Anzman at 212-522-2103 or melissa_anzman@timeinc.com