[+/-] Bush and Kerry tied in latest poll

President Shrub is now in a statistical dead heat with Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry for the presidency, in a tightening of the race after the first debate last week. The USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll of likely voters taken between Friday and Sunday found Bush's 8 point lead over Kerry in a Sept. 26 poll had evaporated and both candidates would get 49 percent of the vote if the election were held today.

Independent Ralph Nader got 1 percent, compared to 3 percent in the previous survey.

It was the first poll to show Bush took a hit following last Thursday's debate which focused on foreign policy and national security. Kerry was judged the winner of the debate by more than two to one of likely voters in the poll. Voters also thought the Democrat expressed himself more clearly and he was more intelligent.

The poll found Kerry reclaimed his advantage on the economy and more voters thought the Democrat would handle the economy better than Bush.