In the aftermath of the United States presidential debates, Democrat John Kerry has pulled even with President George Bush in Florida, the state that decided the 2000 presidential election, according to a poll out on Thursday.
Bush was favoured by 48% and Kerry by 47% among 808 likely voters in a Quinnipiac University Poll.
The telephone poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3,5% and was taken from last Friday to Tuesday. Independent candidate Ralph Nader received 1%.
The same polling organisation showed Bush with a 51% to 44% lead two weeks ago.
“The debates strengthened Kerry’s image in Florida,” assistant poll director Clay Richards said. “For the first time, more Kerry supporters say their vote means they are voting for the senator, and not just against President Bush.”
third of those questioned rated the presidential debates as very important in their decision.
Florida’s 27 electoral votes represent the richest cache of electoral votes in the battleground states being contested in the final days of the 2004 campaign.
Both candidates spent significant time in the state this week.
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency; states’ votes are relative to their population.
The results were similar to other recent polls, including a Mason-Dixon poll done for several media outlets and a University of North Florida poll, which both showed the race even. — Sapa-AP
Ill Clinton will join campaign