Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore has taken the lead in a new poll of voters in the nation’s most populous state, earning back some of the deficit he has experienced overall against rival GOP nominee George W. Bush in recent weeks.
According to a new
Portrait of America poll, released today, Gore’s popularity jumped 10 points over Bush in California, showing the vice president ahead 47 to 37 percent.
Notable, POA analysts said, because an
Aug. 9 pre-convention poll found that Bush led Gore by 5 percent. Collectively, analysts said, Gore’s new rating represents a 15-point shift in just over a week.
However, analysts said, it was common for major party candidates to receive such polling boosts. Furthermore, it made sense that Gore’s ratings would climb so substantially in California, considering the Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles.
If Gore continues to hold California, he will eventually claim all 54 of the state’s electoral votes. Currently, Bush leads Gore in states with 341 electoral votes; Gore leads in states with 150, with 270 needed to win the White House.
Historically, presidential candidates have not won the national election without capturing the electoral votes of both California and New York, the number one and two states respectively, with the most electoral-college votes at stake.
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WND Staff