Tracking poll: Modest Gore lead persists

Lead over Bush falls back within margin of error

By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Al Gore's modest, post-Labor Day lead over presidential rival Texas Gov. George W. Bush persists in Thursday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll, while minor party challengers Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan continue to fade.

Interviews with 701 likely voters conducted September 11-13 give Democrat presidential nominee Gore a seven point lead over Republican rival Bush. Gore claimed 49 percent of the survey's voters, while Bush had the support of 42 percent, a point higher than yesterday's results. As the poll has a sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points, the vice president's lead is once again within the statistical margin of error.

On the heels of the Democratic convention, Gore pulled even with Bush, opening up a narrow lead after Labor Day. Today's tracking poll figures show little change in the race since the start of the week, with Gore's support staying in the high 40s, while Bush's has remained in the low 40s.

Gore's gains appear to be based on his ability to convince voters that he has a better plan for the budget surplus than Bush does. Just after the Democratic convention, the two candidates were essentially tied on this issue, but Gore now has a 49 percent to 42 percent advantage -- the most notable change on issues in September. Gore has also pulled even with Bush on taxes, an issue which the Bush camp hoped would be the cornerstone of his appeal to voters.

CNN will be releasing the results on its tracking polls every day until the November 7 elections. The polls monitor public opinion of the presidential race over intervals of two to three days.

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

September 11-13

Likely voters' choice for president

Gore      49%

Bush      42%

Nader      3

Buchanan   1

Sampling error: +/-4% pts

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

September 11-13

Asked of likely voters: Who would do a better job handling the budget surplus

          Gore    Bush


Now        49%      42%

August     46       45

July       37       52

Sampling error: +/-4% pts

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

September 11-13

Asked of likely voters: Who would do a better job handling taxes

          Gore    Bush


Now        46%      45%

August     43       49

July       36       54

Sampling error: +/-4% pts

COMPLETE TRACKING TREND ON HORSE RACE