foxnews.com
October 26, 2000
NEW YORK — The latest Fox News Electoral Vote Count analysis shows Texas Gov. George W. Bush extending his lead over Al Gore with a continued
erosion of the vice president's voter base.
Bush now holds a 246 to 209 advantage over Gore, according to the poll, with 83 votes now considered "toss-ups." A candidate needs 270 electoral votes on Election
Day to win.
This represents a slight change from last week's Fox News vote count, which showed Bush leading Gore 235 to 228. The shift continues a trend that began two
weeks ago. On October 12, Gore led Bush 250 to 162.
Thursday's count has Bush with 205 "safe" electoral votes and 41 "leaning" his way. Bush had 30 votes leaning his way a week ago. Gore polls 92 safe and 117
leaning, having had 136 votes leaning his way last week.
The poll gives safe votes to a candidate who is comfortably ahead in state polling. Leaning votes are counted for states where a candidate's lead is close to the margin
of error.
State Shifts
States shifting from their previous position this week include Iowa and Washington. Both have moved from toss-ups back to leaning Gore. The vice president now
leads Bush in all of the Pacific Northwest, with Oregon leaning to Gore as well.
But three states move from the lean Gore column to toss-up status, with Minnesota, Maine, and vote-rich Pennsylvania now up for grabs. Both candidates covet the
Keystone State's 23 electoral votes.
Bush appeared Thursday with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who is hoping to deliver the state to the man who once had Ridge on the short list to be his running
mate.
And one state, Missouri, moves from toss-up status to lean Bush, with Bush polling well in St. Louis County, site of the third and final presidential debate.
Less than two weeks remain until Election Day.
Popular Vote Shows Tight Race
Recent popular vote polls had shown some movement toward the vice president in recent days, checking some of the momentum Bush had enjoyed in the wake of
the three presidential debates. But most polls continue to show an extraordinarily tight race.
A Reuters/MSNBC poll shows Gore with a two-point advantage, while a Voter.com poll shows Bush with a four-point lead. ABC News and the The Washington Post
both show Bush with a two point lead, a statistical dead heat.
A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showed an enormous one-day swing with Bush now leading 48 to 43 percent after trailing Gore by a point just yesterday. This poll
has exhibited significant fluctuations back and forth between both candidates in recent weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report |
