Slim lead for Kerry after second debate

DEMOCRATIC challenger John Kerry held on to a slim one-point lead over President Bush after Friday’s second debate between the White House rivals, according to a new poll.

Support for Mr Kerry and Mr Bush held steady after the TV encounter, with the Massachusetts senator maintaining a slim 46-45% lead on Mr Bush in the latest Reuters/Zogby poll released yesterday.

The slight advantage for Mr Kerry was well within the poll’s margin of error, and the tight race heading into the final three weeks looks a lot like the 2000 election that Mr Bush narrowly won over Democrat Al Gore, pollster John Zogby said.