Poll: Gore still trails Bush

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Al Gore continues to lose a hypothetical head-to-head presidential match-up against Republican front-runner George W. Bush, but he is now tied with Arizona Sen. John McCain in a two-way race, according to a CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll released Wednesday.

Gore's rival for the Democratic nomination, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, does even better, beating McCain in a hypothetical match-up and Bradley is closer to Bush than the vice president, although Bush beats both Democrats.

The debates among both parties' candidates have had no visible impact on the voters. Bush, the governor of Texas, remains far ahead of his GOP rivals, and Gore maintains a double-digit lead over Bradley.

But there is a key difference between the two parties' front-runners. A majority of registered Republicans say that they will definitely vote for Bush; only 35 percent say they will definitely vote for Gore.

The poll was conducted via interviews with 1,031 adult Americans, including 892 registered voters, on December 20-21. The sampling error is noted after each question.

If Vice President Al Gore were the Democratic Party's candidate and Texas Gov. George W. Bush were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: George W. Bush, the Republican, or Al Gore, the Democrat?

Bush 53%

Gore 42%

Sampling error: +/-4 percentage points

If former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley were the Democratic Party's candidate and Texas Gov. George W. Bush were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: Bill Bradley, the Democrat, or George W. Bush, the Republican?

Bush 50%

Bradley 45%

Sampling error: +/-4 percentage points

If Vice President Al Gore were the Democratic Party's candidate and Arizona. Sen. John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: John McCain, the Republican, or Al Gore, the Democrat?

Gore 47%

McCain 47%

Sampling error: +/-4 percentage points

If former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley were the Democratic Party's candidate and Arizona. Sen. John McCain were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: Bill Bradley, the Democrat, or John McCain, the Republican?

Bradley 52%

McCain 39%

Sampling error: +/-4 percentage points

Next, I'm going to read you a list of people who may be running in the Republican primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in the year 2000: Family Research Council Chairman Gary Bauer; Texas Gov. George W. Bush; businessman Steve Forbes; Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch; political commentator Alan Keyes; Arizona Sen. John McCain? (Asked of Republicans only)

Bush 60%

McCain 17%

Forbes 9%

Keyes 4%

Bauer 2%

Hatch 1%

Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points

Now December 9-12

Bush 60% 64%

McCain 17% 18%

Forbes 9% 7%

Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points

Next, I'm going to read you a list of people who may be running in the Democratic primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president in the year 2000: former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley or Vice President Al Gore? (Asked of Democrats only)

Now December 9-12

Gore 52% 54%

Bradley 38% 39%

Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points

Next, I'm going to ask you about each of the candidates who are running for the Republican nomination. For each, please tell me whether you will definitely vote for him for the Republican nomination, whether you might consider voting for him, or whether you will definitely not vote for him. (Asked of Republicans only)

George W. Bush

Definitely vote for him 52%

Consider voting for him 35%

Definitely not vote for him 11%

Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points

Next, I'm going to ask you about each of the candidates who are running for the Democratic nomination. For each, please tell me whether you will definitely vote for him for the Democratic nomination, whether you might consider voting for him, or whether you will definitely not vote for him. (Asked of Democrats only)

Al Gore

Definitely vote for him 35%

Consider voting for him 41%

Definitely not vote for him 21%

Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points

Sen. Bill Bradley

Definitely vote for him 16%

Consider voting for him 47%

Definitely not vote for him 30%

Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points

Half of all Americans say they are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who has publicly discussed his relationship with Jesus Christ. Only about one quarter say that they are less likely to vote for a candidate who discusses his religious views publicly.

As you may know, some candidates for president this year have talked about their personal relationship with Jesus Christ during debates and news interviews. When a candidate for public office does this, does it generally make you more likely or less likely to support that person for president?

More likely 51%

Less likely 26%

Sampling error: +/-3 percentage points

Two-thirds of all Americans approve of the fact that Maryland prosecutors brought charges against Linda Tripp. Only 29 percent disapprove of the fact that Tripp is now in legal trouble for making tape recordings of her conversations with Monica Lewinsky.

As you may know, Linda Tripp is currently in court facing charges stemming from the tape recordings she made of her conversations with Monica Lewinsky, in which Lewinsky described her affair with Bill Clinton. Do you approve or disapprove of the fact that charges were brought against Linda Tripp for this matter?

Approve 64%

Disapprove 29%

Sampling error: +/-3 percentage points

ELECTION 2000

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Poll: Gore still trails Bush

By Keating Holland/CNN

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Wednesday, December 22, 1999