7-Eleven: Bush ahead by a drop

CHICAGO, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- 7-Eleven's second coffee-cup poll indicates U.S. President Bush is leading his Democratic opponent by 1 point -- just as it did on Oct. 9, 2000.

In September 2000 the convenience store chain began offering coffee drinkers cups printed with either: "I'm voting for Bush" or "I'm voting for Gore" -- or a third cup representing an undecided or third-party vote. The final tally four years ago came to 21-percent support for Bush, 20 percent for Vice President Al Gore, and 59 percent other, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Two weeks from Election Day 2004, this year's coffee-cup poll is in full swig. As of Monday Bush again enjoyed a 1-point lead over the Democratic nominee this year, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. The current tally is 18 percent for Bush and 17 percent for Kerry.