Tracking poll: Bush lead holds

From CNN Polling Director Keating Holland

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Friday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll indicates no significant change in the presidential race. In interviews with 2,128 likely voters conducted October 31 through November 2, Texas Gov. George W. Bush won support from 48 percent of all likely voters while 42 percent of those polled supported Vice President Al Gore.

Ralph Nader has cracked the 5 percent threshold for the first time since mid-October. Bush had been hovering in the high-40s for a solid week, with Gore in the low-40s throughout that time.

	RESOURCES
View all the results from the CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll

However, it is important to note that only a third of the interviews were conducted on Thursday night, and many of those respondents had probably not heard the news of Bush's 1976 drunk driving arrest. Reaction to this disclosure will manifest in the results of the next few days.

As always, bear in mind that voters can and will change their minds right through next Tuesday, and the polls are not predicting the outcome of the race -- particularly now that a wild card like the drunk driving arrest is on the table.

Bush has 49 percent and Gore has 45 percent in the latest ABC News survey. In the Washington Post daily tracking poll, Bush has 48 percent to Gore's 45 percent. The latest Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby tracking poll puts the race at 45 percent for Bush and 42 percent for Gore.

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

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

Three-day average

Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
Likely Voters' Choice for President

Bush      48%

Gore      42

Nader      5

Buchanan   *

Sampling error: +/-2% pts

An asterisk means that Buchanan is getting
 less than one-half of one percent.

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL

Six-day average

Oct. 28 - Nov. 2
Likely Voters' Choice for President

Bush      47%

Gore      43

Nader      4

Buchanan   1

Sampling error: +/-2% pts

POLL OF POLLS

                         Bush   Gore

CNN/USA Today/Gallup      48%    42%

ABC News                  49     45

Washington Post       	  48     45

Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby       45     42