While that poll suggest public dissatisfaction with the Bush administration, it is really pretty ephemeral. Assuming Kerry gets the nomination, these numbers are likely to swing wildly back and forth right up until election day.

And thinking that Bush will dump Cheney is a pipe dream. That's the GOP ticket through thick and thin.

What gives me comfort though is that these numbers do suggest that a large number of Americans think we can and should do better than Mr. Bush. It means the race for the White House will be hard fought and no slam dunk for Mr. Bush. People forget that the Bush/Gore election was a virtual dead heat. Bush didn't step into the White House with a mandate to turn the country sharply to the right. The vast majority of Americans have moderate, middle-of-the-road views. As election day approaches, both candidates will be working to demonstrate they are the more certered centrist.