Bush opens small poll lead

US president George Bush has opened a slight lead over presidential challenger Senator John Kerry while regaining the confidence of some voters on the economy and other domestic issues, according to a new poll that held a silver lining for Democrats.

The addition of Senator John Edwards to Kerry’s ticket appears to have helped the Democrat in the South and among low-income voters – a result the Massachusetts senator had hoped for when he selected the North Carolina populist over more seasoned politicians.