The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll has good news for the Bush campaign.

A majority of voters say they know little about John F. Kerry's positions on key issues and want the Democratic presidential candidate to detail specific plans for handling the economy, Iraq and the war on terrorism when he addresses the Democratic National Convention and a nationally televised audience on Thursday, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey suggests that the stakes for Kerry and the Democrats as they began their convention in Boston could not be higher. In barely a month, Kerry has lost ground to President Bush on every top voting issue in this year's election.

A growing proportion of voters say Bush and not Kerry is the candidate who most closely shares their values, and four in 10 believe the Democrat is "too liberal." Bush has even narrowed the gap on which candidate better understands their problems, an area in which Kerry has led.

The poll suggests that negative ads by the Bush-Cheney campaign that have been airing since early March, as well as attacks by Republican officials, have been increasingly successful in planting the image of Kerry as an unreliable leader who flip-flops on the issues -- perceptions that Democrats will work hard to reverse at their convention.

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The survey found that Kerry and Bush remain virtually deadlocked, with 48 percent of registered voters supporting Bush and 46 percent Kerry. Independent candidate Ralph Nader claims 3 percent of the hypothetical vote. Kerry held a four-point lead over Bush in mid-June and was tied with Bush in a Post survey two weeks ago.

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In virtually every measure tested, Kerry's image has eroded in recent weeks. He has lost his double-digit advantage as the candidate viewed by voters as more honest and more understanding of their problems. The president also is now seen by voters as the candidate who better reflects their values, and he has increased his advantage as better able to keep the country safe and secure. The proportion of voters who rate Kerry as "too liberal" has increased slightly, from 36 percent in June to 40 percent.

On issues, Kerry has also lost ground to Bush. By increasing margins, the president is seen as better able to deal with Iraq, the war on terrorism and taxes. On two key issues in which Kerry had an advantage as late as two weeks ago -- the economy and education -- the candidates are tied.

This is not good news for the Kerry campaign. His pick of Edwards for Vice President hasn't helped him at all and may have hurt him. It also looks like voters are starting to catch on to the fact that Kerry has no solutions, only criticism of Bush. Repeating that you are a Vietnam veteran at every turn is not enough to win an election.

Also keep in mind that this poll was not limited to registered or likely voters which means it probably skews more towards the Democrats. That wouldn't be the first time the Washington Post/ABC News poll was skewed. So in reality Bush's numbers may be even better.

Captain Ed explains why the pick of Edwards may have hurt Kerry:

They're right -- this is the most significant presidential election in a generation, and the fact that Kerry chose a single-term politician who can't even count on carrying his home state demonstrates Kerry's lack of seriousness for the challenge. Serious candidates don't select VP nominees for their pretty-boy looks and great hair. Now that Teresa has sabotaged the run-up and Andrew Stern stuck his knife in Kerry's back, he'd better hope for a miracle to get the bounce he needs from the convention, because the way it looks now, he hit his high-water mark last month.

It will be interesting to see what kind of a bounce Kerry gets after the convention. If it is a small bounce, he is toast.