CNN poll: Bush, Gore tied at 45 percent

Debates could break candidates' polling deadlock

By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It can't get any closer than this: Sunday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll shows Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore tied with his GOP rival, George W. Bush, at 45 percent.

In Saturday's poll Gore led Bush by just 2 percentage points, 46 percent to 44 percent.

The survey showed the position of Green Party candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader unchanged from Saturday's poll, with 4 percent. Also unchanged was the standing of Reform Party candidate Patrick Buchanan, with 1 percent.

How close is the race between Bush and Gore? Not only do both the major-party candidates have the same share of the vote, but both men have identical favorable and unfavorable ratings. Fifty-nine percent have a favorable view of Gore, and 59 percent have a favorable view of Bush. Both have unfavorable ratings of 36 percent.

Bush's favorable rating has grown since mid-September, when he trailed Gore by 5 points in the political horse race.

Sunday's figures illustrate the pattern seen for more than a week -- both men hovering in the mid-40s in a virtual deadlock, with neither candidate able to sustain even the smallest of advantages for any length of time.

That's no guarantee that the race will remain close until November 7 -- the debates, set to begin Tuesday in Boston, Massachusetts, are expected to change the minds of at least a few voters, and in a tight race a few votes is all it takes to tip the contest.

But heading into those crucial debates, it looks like the race is as close as it has been in 20 years.

Sunday's tracking poll results, taken from interviews with 691 likely voters, was conducted September 28 through 30.

CNN will be releasing the results from its tracking polls every day until Election Day. The polls monitor public opinion about the presidential race during intervals of two to three days.

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
September 28-30
Likely Voters'
Choice for President

Gore      45 percent
Bush      45 percent
Nader      4 percent
Buchanan   1 percent

Sampling error: +/-4% points

COMPLETE TRACKING TREND ON HORSE RACE