Poll: Kerry closes Bush lead; race extremely close (Florida)

Posted on Thu, Oct. 21, 2004

Poll: Kerry closes Bush lead; race extremely close

BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In the aftermath of the presidential debates, Democrat John Kerry has pulled even with President Bush in Florida, according to a poll out Thursday.

Bush was favored by 48 percent and Kerry by 47 percent among 808 likely voters in a Quinnipiac University Poll. The telephone poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points and was taken from last Friday to Tuesday. Independent candidate Ralph Nader received 1 percent. The same polling organization showed Bush with a 51-44 lead two weeks ago.

"The debates strengthened Kerry's image in Florida," assistant poll director Clay Richards said. "For the first time more Kerry supporters say their vote means they are voting for the senator, and not just against President Bush."

A third of those questioned rated the presidential debates as very important in their decision.

Florida's 27 electoral votes represents the richest cache of electoral votes in the battleground states being contested in the final days of the 2004 campaign. Both candidates spent significant time this week.
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