MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry's lead in Minnesota opinion polls has slipped to a dead heat with President Bush.
Kerry's lead in the latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll conducted Oct. 9-11 has eroded to 5 points, within the statistical margin of error. Forty-eight percent of likely voters polled said they support Kerry, 43 percent support Bush, 2 percent support independent candidate Ralph Nader, and 7 percent are still undecided.
The poll was released on the eve of Wednesday's third and final presidential debate on domestic policy in Tempe, Ariz. But surveys indicate the debates' effect on Minnesota's voters is less than overwhelming.
Six in 10 likely voters said the debates won't affect their vote. One-quarter said the debates make them more likely to favor Kerry, while 11 percent said they make them support Bush more.
