New poll shows Kerry leading Bush

New opinion polls show Democratic challenger John Kerry running narrowly ahead of President George Bush just days after the first of their three debates and less than a month before the presidential election on November 2.

A Newsweek magazine poll, the first taken since Thursday night’s televised debate between the candidates, showed Kerry had gained on Bush, increasing his support to 47% of those polled while the president had 45%. Independent candidate Ralph Nader had 2%.

That was a significant change form the magazine’s early September poll, in which Bush led Kerry by 49% to 43%.

Another poll taken after Bush addressed the Republican National Convention on September 2 had given the president an 11-point lead over the Massachusetts senator.

The latest CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll shows Bush and Kerry even at 49% each, with Nader at 1%. That compares with the group’s late September poll giving Bush a lead of 52% to 44% for Kerry, with 3% for Nader.