Tracking poll: Presidential race tightening again

By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Texas Gov. George W. Bush's lead over Vice President Al Gore has declined to just two points in Monday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll. Bush, the Republican nominee, garners 46 percent to Democratic hopeful Gore's 44 percent, but is within the survey's 4-point margin of error .

The daily poll of 769 likely voters conducted October 20-22 paints a now familiar picture -- likely voters moving to George W. Bush in the immediate aftermath of a debate but quickly moving back to a neck-and-neck race after a few days. Bush is down four points since the weekend, and Gore's support has risen by three points in the same time. That's virtually the same pattern that occurred after the first debate, when Bush built an 8-point lead in the days after his initial match with Gore, only to see his advantage drop to a too-close-to-call 3-point edge by the following week.

In fact, the basic story since Labor Day is that neither candidate has been able to hold onto a lead for more than a few days at a time. It is important to note that although Gore has gained some ground, it is too soon to say whether this is a temporary phenomenon or a fundamental change among likely voters.

While both candidates have nearly identical favorable ratings, the poll results indicate that Bush is seen as more honest and trustworthy than Gore. Nearly two-thirds think Bush is honest, while 55 percent say Gore is honest and trustworthy.

Most voters say that Gore's ties to Bill Clinton have no effect on their view of the vice president. Twenty-six percent say Gore's ties to Clinton make them feel less favorably toward him, and only 9 percent say that makes them feel more favorable toward him. If Clinton actively campaigns, only 17 percent say that would make them more likely to vote for Gore, and 40 percent say it would make them less likely.

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 20-22

Likely Voters' Choice for President

Bush      46%

Gore      44

Nader      4

Buchanan   1

Sampling error: +/-4% pts

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

October 20-22

Honest and Trustworthy?

            Bush    Gore


Yes          64%     55%

No           29      41

Sampling error: +/-4% pts

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

October 20-22

Gore's Ties To Clinton Make You Feel...

Less favorable toward Gore    26%

More favorable toward Gore     9

No effect                     64


Sampling error: +/-4% pts

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

October 20-22

If Clinton Campaigns for Gore

Less likely to vote for Gore    40%

More likely to vote for Gore    17

No difference                   40


Sampling error: +/-4% pts

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

October 20-22

Opinion of Candidates

            Bush    Gore


Favorable    60%     58%

Unfavorable  36      39


Sampling error: +/-4% pts

COMPLETE TRACKING TREND ON HORSE RACE