Thu Jun 10, 3:01 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) has a solid lead over President Bush (news - web sites) among voters nationwide, according to a Los Angeles Times poll on Thursday that cited widespread unease over the country's direction, Iraq (news - web sites) policies and the economy.
Kerry, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts, led Bush by 51 percent to 44 percent nationally in a two-way match-up, according to the poll of 1,230 registered voters taken from Saturday to Tuesday.
The figures dropped with independent Ralph Nader (news - web sites) in the mix: Kerry drew 48 percent in a three-way race and Bush 42 percent, the poll showed.
Majorities disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy and Iraq, despite encouraging news on both recently, the poll said. Fifty-six percent of respondents said America "needs to move in a new direction" because Bush's policies have not improved the country.
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=6&u=/nm/campaign_poll_dc