Manchester - Vice-President Al Gore extended his lead yesterday while the Governor of Texas, Mr George Bush, made up ground in the latest Reuters-WHDH tracking poll in New Hampshire, nine days before the first primary of the 2000 presidential race.
The poll, conducted for Reuters and the Boston television station, WHDH, by Zogby International, found Mr Gore leading former Senator Bill Bradley 50-38 per cent among voters who intended to take part in the Democratic Party primary on February 1st. Mr Gore's lead in a similar poll on Saturday had been 49-39 per cent.
Among Republicans, Senator John McCain of Arizona led Mr Bush 35-33 per cent. In Saturday's poll, Mr McCain had led Mr Bush by 38-32 per cent. The decline in support for Mr Bradley could accelerate after today's Iowa caucuses, the first vote of the campaign, which Mr Gore is favoured to win by a wide margin.