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.