President George W. Bush has opened a four-point lead on Democratic Senator John Kerry despite indications Mr Kerry won all of the three televised debates between the two candidates.
A Reuters/Zogbypoll released today shows Mr Bush leading Mr Kerry 48-44, a three-point inrease in support for Mr Bush after a poll conducted after Wednesday's debate in Arizona. In yesterday's poll, Mr Bush led Mr Kerry by only one point, at 46-45 per cent.
An improvement in Mr Bush's showing among undecideds and a strong response from his base Republican supporters helped fuel the president's rise.
"The good news for the president is that he has improved his performance among the small group of undecideds," said pollster Mr John Zogby, who found 6 per cent of likely voters are undecided. "Nearly a quarter now say that he deserves to be re-elected, up from 18 percent in our last poll."
Mr Zogby said the difference between Mr Kerry's 79 per cent support among Democrats and Mr Bush's 89 per cent support from Republicans also should be "worrisome" for Mr Kerry in such a tight race.
"Kerry needs to close the deal with his fellow Democrats," Mr Zogby said.
Both candidates headed to the swing state of Nevada in upbeat mood yesterday after their final debate and renewed their battle during separate appearances in Las Vegas over who was best suited to lead the middle class to prosperity.
The focus of the race now turns to less than a dozen crucial battleground states, with Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa - where Mr Bush and Mr Kerry are running neck and neck - all certain to see plenty of the candidates as election day approaches.
The poll showed independent candidate Mr Ralph Nader, blamed by some Democrats for drawing enough votes from Mr Al Gore to cost him the election in 2000, with the support of 1.1 per cent of likely voters.