Voters don't see Kerry as likable

The Washington Times: "Late last month, the AFL-CIO conducted focus group interviews with undecided union members in St. Louis and Philadelphia who said that Mr. Kerry 'doesn't warm anybody up' and that Mr. Bush was viewed as a more likable and stronger leader.
The focus group interviews suggested that Mr. Kerry's perceived aloofness was an obstacle in appealing to union voters. Mr. Bush won 35 percent of union voters in 2000, despite union leaders' near-uniform endorsements of Democrat Al Gore.
Mr. Kerry's personality also might be a problem for him in the months to come with Hispanic voters, many of whom like the president on a personal and visceral level, even if they don't support all of his policies.
'Bush is actually liked in the Hispanic community. He comes across as someone who understands the community. For Democrats, that comes across as a challenge,' said Maria Cardona, director of the Hispanic Project at the New Democrat Network.
'But it is still very early in the campaign, and Kerry is just now introducing himself to the Latino community. The more they get to know him and what he stands for and his values, his likability quotient will go up in the community,' Ms. Cardona said.
'I am sure Kerry understands this very well, that he is going to have to make an effort to communicate on a personal level with Hispanics,' she added. "

No problem here, as long as somebody has invented a Botox for the personality.

Regarding Hispanics, perhaps Kerry is relying on the Franco-American and Preppie voters to out-poll Hispanics. Why not? If you believe the UN can unscrew Iraq, you can believe anything.