Tracking poll: At 50 percent, Gore holds onto lead
By CNN Polling Director Keating Holland
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Al Gore holds onto his lead over Texas Gov. George W. Bush in Friday's CNN/USA Today/Gallup tracking poll.
Today's poll indicates little change. Interviews with 657 likely voters, conducted September 19-21, place Gore at 50 percent and Bush at 42 percent, a margin of 8 points. Pat Buchanan has 2 percent -- the first time since the Democratic convention that he has gotten over 1 percent -- and Ralph Nader also has 2 percent.
Looking at the bigger picture -- an important exercise, given the nature of tracking polls -- the last few days' results tell the same story as last week's numbers did, with Gore's support hovering near the 50 percent mark and Bush in the low-to-mid 40s.
Gore's lead in the latest poll does stand at the edge of the survey's margin of sampling error.
CNN will be releasing the results on 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
September 19-21
Likely voters' choice for president
Gore 50%
Bush 42
Nader 2
Buchanan 2
Sampling error: +/-4 percent pts
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