Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore have scored dead even in one poll while a separate survey has the Texas governor up by a slight margin.
As the first presidential debate in Boston looms tonight,
Portrait of America’s Presidential Tracking Poll had Bush ahead by 2 points today, 43 percent to 41 percent. POA analysts were quick to note, however, that the poll has a margin of error of 2 percent.
In the electoral vote race, POA said Bush still leads Gore with 210 “solid” or “leaning Bush” votes, compared to the vice president’s 187 “solid” or “leaning Gore” votes. POA said 141 electoral votes are still up for grabs in states with no clear majority.
“Because the race is so close, the presidential debates may take on added importance this year,” analysts said yesterday.
In the third party races, Green Party nominee Ralph Nader has 3.6 percent; Reform nominee Patrick J. Buchanan has 1.5 percent; Libertarian Harry Browne has 0.8 percent; Constitutional Party nominee Howard Phillips has 0.2 percent; and Natural Law Party nominee John Hagelin does not register. Just under 10 percent (9.8) said they were not sure.
Rasmussen Research conducted the telephone survey of 2,250 likely voters Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2. The firm said its poll has a 95 percent level of confidence.
Meanwhile, in the
Voter.com Battleground 2000 Poll, also released today, shows Bush and Gore in a dead heat with 41 percent each.
With a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 points, the race – if held today – would be too close to call, Voter.com analysts said.
The Voter.com survey is based on telephone surveys of 1,000 likely voters and is conducted by Democrat Celinda Lake of Lake, Snell, Perry, and Associates and Republican Ed Goeas of the Tarrance Group.
On the campaign trail, both candidates will travel to Boston today to ready themselves for tonight’s first 90-minute debate, which will be televised on most major networks. The Boston event is the first of three debates scheduled by the Commission on Presidential Debates and finally agreed upon by both camps.
Bush, his advisers said, will focus on “plain talk” tonight – a pledge echoed by Gore. Gore officials said their candidate would “eat George Bush’s lunch,” in an attempt to play up Gore’s allegedly superior debating skills.
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