Gallup Poll Crowns Kerry

The USA Today-Gallup poll of registered voters - even with a fairly large margin of error (4 points) - showed that Kerry did a better job in the debate (53% to 37%). Prior to the debate, 52% supported Bush and 44%, Kerry. Voters said that their opinion of Kerry changed more (favorably) than their opinion of the President. However, on the key issue of which man would "better handle" Iraq, the needle did not move; Bush holds a slight edge even though 68% thought Kerry's criticism of the President was "fair." They thought Kerry expressed himself better but that Bush was "more believable."