As Governor George Bush heads for nomination at the Republican convention in Philadelphia next week, a new opinion poll gives him an 11-point lead among likely voters over Vice-President Al Gore.
The Gallup poll for USA Today/CNN shows support for Mr Bush in the presidential election at 59 per cent, which is up five points from 10 days ago. During the same period, support for Mr Gore has fallen four points to 39 per cent.
However, the Gore campaign points out that Mr Bush's father led President Clinton in the polls before the two conventions in 1992 and yet lost that year's election.
"So stay tuned. History is about to repeat itself," said Mr Mark Fabiani, the deputy campaign manager of the Gore campaign.
But the poll has other bad news for Mr Gore, as it shows the electorate has more confidence in Mr Bush's ability to run the country in such areas as defence and the economy, where Americans are enjoying a huge boom under President Clinton.
The latest poll results come as Mr Bush and his recently selected running mate, Mr Dick Cheney, begin a triumphal journey to the convention, where they are assured of a tumultuous welcome from the delegates.
The Bush-Cheney ticket should also get a further "bounce" in the polls from all the publicity generated by the convention.
On the way to Philadelphia, the two men will campaign in Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania - swing states which the Republicans are hoping to win.
Yesterday, the Republican team campaigned in Arkansas, the home state of President Clinton.
Mr Gore has begun a holiday at a seaside resort in North Carolina, where he will relax before the Democratic convention beginning in Los Angeles on August 14th.
But the Vice-President said he would also "mull over" the shortlist of his possible running mates during his vacation.
The two most talked about possibilities are Senator Bob Graham of Florida - a key state for Mr Gore - and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
The former Senator, Mr George Mitchell, is also said to be under consideration and the name of Ms Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend, daughter of the late Robert Kennedy and the deputy governor of Maryland, has also been mentioned.
In Philadelphia, work is continuing on the Republican "platform", which sets out the party's goals as it prepares for the presidential and congressional elections.
The first draft shows a softening of previous hardline Republican positions and an attempt to reflect Mr Bush's approach of "compassionate conservatism".
But there has been no change in the party's strong anti-abortion position, which caused problems for Mr Bob Dole when he was the Republican candidate in 1996.
In an attempt to attract more women voters, however, the platform does have a new section on women's health, and proposes increases in grants for research into diseases and medical issues that disproportionately affect women.