Tracking Poll: Once again, Bush-Gore race a dead heat

By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Friday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll indicates that Democratic presidential hopeful Al Gore and his Republican rival George W. Bush are once again locked in a dead heat after a brief few days where it appeared the Democrat may have opened up a lead.

Today's figures -- 45 percent for Gore to 44 percent for Bush -- represents a return to the neck-and-neck race of most of the fall campaign.

The survey of 683 likely voters was conducted October 3-5, with about two-thirds of the interviews conducted after Tuesday's presidential debate in Boston. While Gore seemed to be gaining strength before the debate, he appears to have lost any advantage in the aftermath of the face-to-face encounter with Gov. Bush.

Today's results are reflected in a CNN/Time poll also released Friday. That survey places Bush at 47 percent and Gore at 45 percent.

CNN will be releasing the results of 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

October 3-5

Likely voters' choice for president

COMPLETE TRACKING TREND ON HORSE RACE