Contest hots up as Bush lead over Kerry narrows

PRESIDENT George W Bush holds a narrow two-point lead over Democratic challenger John Kerry less than four weeks before the November 2 presidential election, according to a new poll.

Mr Bush led the Massachusetts senator 46%-44% in the initial three-day Reuters/Zogby tracking poll released yesterday, with 8% of likely voters still undecided ahead of tonight’s second face-to-face debate between the White House rivals in St Louis.

With the war in Iraq dominating the agenda, Mr Kerry opened a 51%-39% lead over Mr Bush among voters who cite Iraq as the top issue. Mr Bush held a 68%-26% lead among voters who cite the war on terror as the top issue.

But while Mr Kerry once hoped the economy would give him a vital advantage, he has not been able to break away from Mr Bush among voters worried about the topic.

“Kerry’s edge on the economy is gone,” pollster John Zogby said. “Among those who cite the economy as the top issue, the candidates are in a dead heat - Bush holding a slight edge.”

The White House race has seesawed in the last month, with Mr Bush opening a lead in most polls after the Republican convention in early September and Mr Kerry surging back after last week’s debate.

The survey was taken after the debate, where Mr Kerry aggressively questioned Mr Bush’s policies on Iraq.

The new poll was also sandwiched around Tuesday’s debate between Mr Bush’s and Mr Kerry’s running mates, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Senator John Edwards, who sharply disagreed on Iraq and traded personal attacks over their records and judgment.

Mr Zogby said the poll reflected America’s deep divisions going into the final month of the campaign. It found Mr Kerry held a lead among young and single voters and voters in the eastern and western US.

Mr Bush had advantages with married voters, voters aged 30 to 49, households with veterans or someone serving in the military, and in the South. The two were tied among voters more than 50 years old.

The poll found 52% of voters had a negative view of Mr Bush’s job performance and 50% believed he should not be re-elected.

But Mr Bush had a more solid grip on his base of support, earning the backing of 90% of Republicans. Kerry had the support of 76% of Democrats, but led among independents 45%-40%.