beating the Bush … not!

The latest polls that show President Bush running neck-and-neck with Democratic challenger John Kerry evidently don't reflect the pulse of the logistics industry. An online survey conducted by DC VELOCITY reveals that two-thirds of respondents plan to vote to re-elect President Bush in November.

Almost 400 readers responded to the poll, conducted in mid-July during the week of the Democratic National Convention. In contrast with the latest Gallup poll, which shows that 30 percent strongly approve of Bush's performance, the DC VELOCITY survey showed that 19 percent of the respondents strongly approve of the job being done by President Bush, while another 49 percent approve.

"I wouldn't say the world is perfect, but I consider his rating to be fine when all the circumstances are considered," says Tim Phipps, supply chain strategies manager at Sony DADC, in Terre Haute, Ind. He credits Bush's tax credits with helping the nation climb out of its latest recession.

The survey indicates most voters will have the economy on their minds when they go to the polls on Nov. 2. Just over one-third of logistics execs say the economy is most likely to influence their vote, while 25 percent say the war on terrorism is most important. Political ethics placed third (16 percent), followed by the conflict in Iraq (11 percent). Health care, normally an explosive issue during an election year, was mentioned by just 4 percent of respondents.