Kerry now seen as more likeable

According to a new CNN/Time poll. And it's really not close:

Presidential Race Deadlocked: Kerry Now Beats Bush on "Likeability"; Kerry Recaptures Large Lead Among Female Voters, 50%-38%; 68% Say Vice Presidential Debate Had No Impact

George Bush and John Kerry are again deadlocked, 45% Bush – 45% Kerry, among likely voters in the three-way race, as they head into tonight's town hall meeting, according to a TIME Poll taken Oct. 6-7. Nader is down to 3%.

On being "likeable," a key strength for Bush in 2000, Bush now trails Kerry, 70% - 65%. (Bush had a slight 4 point lead on likeability before the debate.) Bush still leads Kerry by a wide margin, 81% - 42% on "sticking to his positions."

I've always wondered why the hell anyone found him likeable. I don't find arrogantly smirking at everything around you to be all that attractive of a quality, myself. But this poll must have Rove freaking out. After all, "likeability" seemed to be the only thing left that Prince Non-Valiant had going for him. Especially with "sticking to his positions" (which Bush leads in, above) rapidly morphing into stupid bullheadness and a nearly unbelievable level of denial.

People USED to think of Bush as "likeable." But the debate showed him to be the petulant brat that he is. And what used to look like "steadfastness" now looks like "encased in cement and unable to move."