August 25, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Aug. 25, 2004 - The top presidential candidates in the United States are tied, according to a poll by Investor's Business Daily. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for Republican incumbent George W. Bush in the 2004 election, while 43 per cent would support Democratic nominee John Kerry.

(CPOD) Aug. 25, 2004 - The top presidential candidates in the United States are tied, according to a poll by Investor's Business Daily. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for Republican incumbent George W. Bush in the 2004 election, while 43 per cent would support Democratic nominee John Kerry.

Five per cent of respondents would back independent candidate Ralph Nader. The election is scheduled for Nov. 2.

Support for Bush increased by one per cent since early August, while backing for Kerry dropped by two per cent.

Yesterday, vice-president Dick Cheney apparently broke ranks with the Bush administration's position on same-sex marriage. During an event in Iowa, Cheney—whose daughter Mary is openly lesbian—said "that's appropriately a matter for the states to decide, that's how it ought to best be handled, but the president makes basic policy for the administration, and he's made it clear that he does, in fact, support a constitutional amendment on this issue." Bush and Cheney have not appeared together at campaign events because of security reasons.

In July, the U.S. Senate voted 50 to 48 to end deliberations on the issue of a federal constitutional amendment to block same-sex marriage. Democratic nominee Kerry supports the notion of civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, currently accessible only in the state of Vermont.

Polling Data

What candidate would you vote for in the 2004 U.S. presidential election?

	Aug. 17-23	Aug. 2-5
George W. Bush (R)	43%	42%
John Kerry (D)	43%	45%
Ralph Nader (I)	5%	5%

Source: Investor's Business Daily
Methodology: Interviews to 884 registered American voters, conducted from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23, 2004. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.