Bush pulls ahead of Gore after TV debate

As Vice-President Al Gore and the Governor of Texas, George W Bush, go into their last four weeks of campaigning, the view of America's army of election analysts is that an already neck and neck presidential race just got tighter.

As Vice-President Al Gore and the Governor of Texas, George W Bush, go into their last four weeks of campaigning, the view of America's army of election analysts is that an already neck and neck presidential race just got tighter.

After widening in Mr Gore's favour in the middle of last week, opinion polls yesterday showed Mr Bush closing in again, and in one even retaking a lead that has switched four times since August.

When Tuesday's debate between the candidates in Boston was over, the spotlight turned to Danville in Kentucky, where the vice-presidential candidates faced off. Dick Cheney was perceived the winner over Joe Lieberman. But their encounter weakened the stereotype that vice-presidential candidates do not matter. Mr Cheney could well have kept Mr Bush in the race as he and Mr Gore go into a second debate on Wednesday.

If the evident competence of Mr Gore is effectively balanced by the likeability of Mr Bush, impressions on the ground will count. And that could make the difference between winning and losing the White House.