US poll: Osama tape effect unknown

Though Osama bin Laden has sparked a debate between President George W Bush and Democratic rival John Kerry, analysts feel the bin Laden videotape is unlikely to have much of an effect on the outcome of Tuesday's presidential election.

According to some voters, it is unlikely to have much effect as they have already made up their mind. However, some Democrats conceded that the tape could help Bush, as voters prefer him to Kerry so far as fighting terrorism is concerned.

Bush, during his campaign trail, tried to press home with voters his advantage on fighting terrorism and depict Kerry as a weak and vacillating leader unsuited to take on the challenge of terrorism.

Kerry dismissed Bush's assertion, describing the latter's inability to nab bin Laden as a glaring failure of the Bush administration. In an interview to ABC television network, Kerry said, "I'm going to hunt down, capture and kill the terrorists, and I believe I will wage a far more effective war on terror than George Bush has."

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With less than a day left for polling, it is rare that pollsters are still unable to predict the outcome of the election. They simple say the race is still neck-and-neck and too close to call.

The latest polls show the margin between the two candidates to be less than three percentage points, which is within the margin of error and, hence, for practical purposes, the race is still a dead heat.

Analysts expressed concern over voters who make up their mind at the last minute. "Although their number is not much, perhaps two per cent, in a close race it could have a profound effect," they said.

According to NBC News poll analyst Peter Hart, the turnout is expected to be massive. The International Herald Tribune (IHT) quoted Senator John McCain, a Republican campaigning for Bush, as saying, "Every election we say it depends on voter turnout. It really does this time. However, we have no clue as to how many voters are going to come out and cast their votes. I just don't think we've ever seen anything like this."

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Meanwhile, reports suggest that shortage of some 500,000 staff could lead to long lines and lengthy waiting periods for voters on Tuesday. Though early voting, the paper said, might relieve the pressure, some states fear they do not have enough trained election workers to staff polling stations.

Voter registration is up in most states, especially in the so-called battle ground ones.