WEB RESOURCES PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR PEOPLE & THE PRESS http://www.people-press.org

WASHINGTON -- George W. Bush has lost some ground, especially among groups that supported presidential rival John McCain, says a new poll that suggests Bush could recover on the issues of rising gas prices, education and the past fund-raising problems of his Democratic rival.

The poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press had Vice President Al Gore, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, slightly ahead of Bush, the Texas governor and likely GOP nominee, 49 percent to 43 percent among registered voters. The two have been close in several recent polls that also reflected Gore improving in the public's opinion and Bush slipping.

"This poll shows how much Bush was scarred (by the nomination fight), and a lot of it was personal, people saying they don't like him personally," said Andrew Kohut, director of the research center.

Bush was extremely popular in polls taken last year, but the Pew poll does not suggest terminal political problems for his campaign, Kohut said.

"Bush still has some strengths ... he's pretty strong on education for a Republican," Kohut said, and noted "Gore's weakness on ethics, especially on campaign finance."

Kohut said all signs point to "a pretty close race" and noted the candidates are close in several regions, including the Midwest, which could be crucial to the November outcome. Gore was well ahead in the East.

The poll indicated that Gore has improved his standing among independents, having a 47-39 edge, and men, where the two are now tied. Bush led among both groups by 20 points in December.

Some of Gore's greatest gains -- and Bush's biggest losses -- came among groups that were prime constituencies for McCain, including Easterners, older men, Catholics and independents. One of the most dramatic gains for Gore was among white Catholics: the two were close in this poll, but Bush had a 2-to-1 edge in December.

The shift appears driven more by changed personal images of the candidates, instead of issues.

A larger percentage of Gore's supporters cite his personality and leadership as reasons for supporting him than they did last fall -- 64 percent now, compared with 55 percent. The percentage who didn't like Bush because of his personality has grown to 33 percent from 19 percent.

But the poll suggests some areas where Bush could improve his standing.

He was viewed at being better able to control gas prices, which have skyrocketed since last summer. Bush and Gore were about the same on education, but more than half of registered voters said Gore's questionable fund-raising practices during the 1996 Clinton-Gore re-election campaign would make them less likely to vote for him.

Gore gets high marks on some issues, such as keeping Social Security and Medicare financially sound, improving the health care system as well as conditions for minorities. He and Bush also run about even on the issue of keeping the economy strong as well as on taxes, which Bush has made a centerpiece of his campaign.

The poll taken March 15-19 of 912 registered voters has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.