Bush pulls ahead in US election polls

George Bush is pulling ahead in the latest opinion polls released just two weeks before America votes.

A poll for CNN and USA Today puts him eight points in front, one of the biggest margins in the campaign so far. A second poll for Newsweek puts the President six per cent in front. He has a three-point lead in the Washington Post and a narrower two per cent advantage in a fourth poll for Time magazine.

Democrats will take comfort from the fact that the last two polls are technically a dead heat because they fall within the statistical margin of error.

But the polls also show Mr Kerry's debating skills have not been enough to give him the advantage. Voters say the terrorism threat and national security are key issues and the polls show they believe Mr Bush will do a better job in protecting the US.