Bush in a Three Point Lead Over Kerry

LA Times cites the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads

No wonder the Kerry/Edwards campaign is being so rapacious:

For the first time this year in a Times survey, Bush led Kerry in the presidential race, drawing 49% among registered voters, compared with 46% for the Democrat. In a Times poll just before the Democratic convention last month, Kerry held a 2-percentage-point advantage over Bush.

That small shift from July was within the poll’s margin of error. But it fit with other findings in the Times poll showing the electorate edging toward Bush over the past month on a broad range of measures, from support for his handling of Iraq to confidence in his leadership and honesty.

Of course, the Dems are doing everything possible to stem the tide, with namecalling and verbal attacks in play. Problem is, 200 veterans can’t be wrong, and John Kerry’s personal account of his war record has been proven to be unfactual at best.

That’s a five point drop for Kerry. Five points right before the GOP convention. Ouch.