WASHINGTON (AP) — In the first poll since John Kerry
locked up the Democratic nomination, Kerry and President Bush are
tied while independent Ralph Nader has captured enough support to
affect the outcome, validating Democrats’ fears.

The Republican incumbent had the backing of 46 percent, Kerry 45
percent and Nader, the 2000 Green Party candidate who entered the
race last month, was at 6 percent in the survey conducted for The
Associated Press by Ipsos-Public Affairs.

Bush and the four-term Massachusetts senator, who emerged as the
nominee Tuesday after a string of primary race wins over several
rivals, have been running close or Kerry has been ahead in most
recent polls that did not include Nader.

Since Nader entered the race Feb. 22, campaign strategists and
political analysts have been trying to assess the impact of another
presidential bid by the consumer activist whom Democrats blame for
Al Gore’s loss in 2000.

Four years ago, Nader appeared on the ballot in 43 states and
Washington, D.C., garnering only 2.7 percent of the vote.

But in Florida and New Hampshire, Bush won such narrow victories
that had Gore received the bulk of Nader’s votes in those
states, he would have won the general election.

Exit polls from 2000 show that about half of Nader’s
voters would have backed Gore in a two-way race. Nader dismisses
the spoiler label.

While Nader's support in the AP-Ipsos poll was 6 percent, his
backing in polls in 2000 fluctuated in the single digits —
often at about 4 percent, but sometimes higher. This year, Nader is
unlikely to get the Green Party nod and faces a stiff challenge in
getting his name on the ballot in 50 states.

Kenneth Freeman, an 86-year-old retiree from New Smyrna Beach,
Fla., who leans Democratic, was clearly unhappy with Nader's
presidential bid.

“Ralph Nader is fouling it all up,” Freeman said.
“He’s taking votes away from the Democrats. I think
he's on an ego trip.”

Bush’s job approval in the AP-Ipsos poll was 48 percent,
with 49 percent disapproving, which is essentially the same as last
month when 47 percent approved of the president's job
performance.

His approval rating, which soared close to 90 percent after the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and remained high for months, has
dipped to the lowest levels of his presidency in recent weeks.

Six in 10 said the country is on the wrong track, up from last
month, while slightly more than a third of those surveyed —
35 percent — said the country is headed in the right
direction.

“We’re 240-something days from Election Day.
We’ve got a long way to go and expect it to be a close race
throughout, no matter what the factors are,” said Terry Holt,
a spokesman for the Bush campaign.

The poll was conducted Monday through Wednesday as Kerry
captured nine of 10 Super Tuesday elections and claimed the
nomination.