Bush Keeps Narrow Edge Over Dukakis in Latest Gallup Poll
Republican George Bush is clinging to a narrow lead over Democrat Michael S. Dukakis, and Sunday night’s debate had little effect on voter preferences, according to the latest Gallup Poll.
Bush’s lead was 47% to 42% among 1,020 registered voters interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday, little changed from Gallup’s previous survey taken Sept. 9-11, which gave Bush a 49%-41% lead. The margin of error on both surveys was 4 percentage points.
Of those surveyed who had watched the debate, 38% thought Dukakis “did a better job” in the encounter, and 29% gave the edge to Bush. This midweek survey by Gallup contrasted markedly with one taken Sunday night right after the debate. In the earlier poll, conducted by Gallup for Newsweek, 42% declared Dukakis the winner and 41% Bush.
This change in perceptions of the debate’s outcome--fewer now think Bush won and more call it a draw--most likely reflects the influence of news media interpretation of the event.
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