Kerry Opens Leads in Several Key States

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Kerry Opens Leads in Several Key States

ASSOCIATED PRESS 8/12/04

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry has opened narrow leads in Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire and a handful of other battleground states, polls show. A Quinnipiac University poll shows Kerry with a slight lead in Florida. An Epic-MRA survey suggests that Michigan is tilting slightly toward the Democratic ticket. An American Research Group survey shows Kerry-Edwards with small lead in New Hampshire. In addition, Pennsylvania and Oregon now appear to tilt toward Kerry, according to private polling and interviews with strategists in both parties.

If public polls and pundits are right, Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Oregon and 15 others states plus the District of Columbia are in Kerry's column or leaning his way with 269 electoral votes — one short of the presidency. Florida and Ohio, the latter with 20 electoral votes, offer Kerry his best chance of winning big states that went Republican in 2000. Nevada, with just five votes, may be Kerry's next ripest GOP target.

Quoting public polls, Kerry aides say their boss is leading Bush, often narrowly, in 24 states plus the District of Columbia for a total of 316 electoral votes. They say Bush's presidency is hanging by a thread.