Bush tops Kerry in poll, barely

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A poll shows President Bush narrowly ahead of John Kerry among likely voters, USA Today reported Friday.

Bush leads Kerry 50 percent to 47 percent among likely voters, while Kerry leads Bush 48-47 among registered voters. With independent Ralph Nader included, Bush leads Kerry, 48-46 among likely voters.

Bush got a favorable rating of 54 percent, his highest since April; Kerry got a favorable rating of 52 percent, his lowest since January.

In other poll results:

-- Bush leads Kerry 49-43 on who would handle Iraq better. Kerry was ahead 48-47 in a poll Aug. 1 right after the convention;

-- Bush leads Kerry 54-37 on who would handle terrorism better. Kerry was at 41 on Aug. 1;

-- Bush leads Kerry 54-34 on who people say is "a strong and decisive leader." Kerry had halved that lead to 10 points on Aug. 1; and

-- Bush leads Kerry 51-43 on who people trust more to handle the responsibilities of commander in chief, the same as before the convention. They were tied 48-48 in the poll Aug. 1.

The poll of 1,004 adults, conducted Monday through Wednesday, had a margin of sampling error of 3 percentage points.