Dean bounces back but Kerry holds lead ahead of vote

DEMOCRATIC presidential hopeful John Kerry’s lead over Howard Dean dipped slightly, but he still holds a formidable seven-point advantage two days before the New Hampshire primary, according to a Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby poll released yesterday.

Mr Kerry led Mr Dean 30% to 23% in the latest three-day tracking poll, with Wesley Clark dropping one percentage point to 13% and John Edwards and Joseph Lieberman both gaining on Mr Clark at 9%.

“Dean had another good polling day, actually bouncing back to 25 points on Saturday compared to Kerry’s 28,” said pollster John Zogby. “The race looks as though it is tightening, however, it is Kerry’s to lose at this point.”