Bush enjoyed an 11-point lead in early September. Now the poll shows Kerry with 48 percent to Bush's 47 percent. But with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, either candidate could be ahead.

The poll of 706 likely voters was taken Oct. 17-20.

It also indicates that Kerry has picked up support among likely voters under age 35, among women and independents. .

Card's thanks

White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card is usually back in Washington minding the store while other top administration officials are campaigning. But Card stopped by Cincinnati to say hello to campaign volunteers Thursday during a tour of Ohio.

Card praised U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, a Republican from Terrace Park and a close Bush friend who's been named as a possible future chief of staff himself. But he declined to go into details about how an administration in Bush's second term would look.

"I'm afraid to project who that team will be, other than it will be a great team," he said.

Edwards visit

Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards will return to Cincinnati on Saturday night, and attend church Sunday before embarking on a bus tour through Dayton, Lima and Toledo.

Today's campaign calendar

• Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer to announce Democratic voter-protection efforts in Cincinnati, 11 a.m.

• Members of the Congressional Black Caucus host reception with actors LeVar Burton and Don Cheadle at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, downtown, 7 p.m.

• Televised U.S. Senate debate between George Voinovich and Eric Fingerhut, 8 p.m., WCPO-TV (Channel 9).

Carl Weiser and Gregory Korte of the Enquirer