POLLS: Dead Heat

The fortunes of the presidential candidates, according to the Gallup poll, are fluctuating as madly as cardiograms of young lovers in the Tunnel of Love. Last month, right after the G.O.P. Convention. Gallup reported that Dick Nixon had overtaken and had a commanding lead over his opponent, Jack Kennedy—50% to 44%—in the hearts of his voting countrymen. The poll caused jitters at Kennedy headquarters, some doubts amidst the jubilation in Nixon’s camp, and considerable skepticism in the ranks of Washington commentators. Last week, a scant fortnight after his first poll, Gallup announced that Kennedy had moved up to a dead heat with Nixon—47% to 47%. What still bothered the skeptics in all camps was the suspiciously low 6% of the electorate Gallup found still undecided between the two candidates.