Election 2000

Poll states McCain gains the edge over Bush and other opponents
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Arizona Sen. John McCain has built a narrow lead over Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the first time in New Hampshire, says a new poll.

With less than two months before the nation's first presidential primary, McCain drew the support of 37 percent of likely Republican voters compared with 30 percent for Bush in the survey put out Wednesday by the American Research Group.

Previous polls found Bush -- consistently and by wide margins the front-runner nationally -- facing an ever tighter race against McCain in New Hampshire. A few surveys before and after last week's GOP debate in the state put them in a statistical tie.

The new poll of 600 likely Republican voters and 600 likely Democratic voters had a margin of error of four percentage points, leaving McCain with a small but statistically significant lead. It was taken Friday to Tuesday, spanning a period from the day after the New Hampshire debate to the day after a debate in Arizona.