UMASS POLL RESULTS Results from a recently poll by the University of Massachusetts. The poll surveyed 401 registered voters, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. Presidential Race Democrat Al Gore: 52 percent. Republican George W. Bush: 30 percent. Green Party Ralph Nader: 7 percent. Reform Party Pat Buchanan: Less than 1 percent. Undecided/Refuse to answer: 11 percent. Senate Race Democrat Edward M. Kennedy: 64 percent. Libertarian Carla Howell: 13 percent. Republican Jack E. Robinson: 11 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 13 percent. Question 1: Redistricting within two years of Census, instead of four. Approve: 36 percent. Oppose: 19 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 45 percent. Question 2: Limit voting by jailed felons. Approve: 49 percent. Oppose: 31 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 20 percent. Question 3: Ban greyhound dog racing. Approve: 37 percent. Oppose: 39 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 23 percent. Question 4: Cut state income tax to 5 percent by 2003. Approve: 50 percent. Oppose: 27 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 23 percent. Question 5: Universal health care. Approve: 39 percent. Oppose: 28 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 33 percent. Question 6: Tax credit for tolls and motor vehicle excise tax. Approve: 42 percent. Oppose: 30 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 28 percent. Question 7: Tax deduction for charitable contributions. Approve: 69 percent. Oppose: 8 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 23 percent. Question 8: Change state's drug laws. Approve: 48 percent. Oppose: 26 percent. Don't Know/Refuse: 26 percent.

The fight over Question 3, which would ban racing at the state's two greyhound tracks, has heated up, with Election Day just six days away.

Supporters have run ads depicting sick and abused dogs, while opponents have highlighted some of the 1,200 track employees who will lose their jobs if the measure passes.

A poll released Monday by the University of Massachusetts showed 39 percent of people oppose the greyhound racing ban, running neck-and-neck with the 37 percent in favor.

However, the poll's margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points, so the contest is technically a dead heat.

The new poll is good news for animal lovers and others who support the ban, after polls in the Boston Herald and The Boston Globe earlier this week showed more opposition -- 46 percent and 44 percent, respectively -- to the ban.

"No one wants to see a loss of jobs," said Robert Bucci, the poll's research director. "But on the other hand, if people could end what's seen as an inhumane system that is cruel, an emotional appeal about animals could trump jobs."

Nearly one quarter of those surveyed said they are still undecided on the greyhound question -- a large bloc of voters that will be courted by both sides in ads this week.

The UMass poll, which surveyed 401 registered voters, was conducted Oct. 25 to 29.

On another closely watched proposal, to cut the state's income tax from 5.85 percent to 5 percent by 2003, supporters hold a double-digit lead.

One in two people said they planned to vote for the tax cut, known as Question 4, while 27 percent said they'd oppose it, according to the UMass poll.

Gov. Paul Cellucci has been Question 4's highest profile supporter. Cellucci, a Republican, has debated the issue with four of the state's top Democrats in recent weeks, all of whom oppose the cut.

Cellucci and others say Massachusetts has a high tax rate that hurts working families and makes the state uncompetitive for business. Supporters say the tax cut, which would drain $1.2 billion from state revenues, would force cuts in education, health care and other services.

Another ballot question, which would bring universal health care to Massachusetts, earned a boost this week when U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who has long fought for universal health care on the federal level, said he would vote for it.

The UMass poll showed 39 percent of respondents approve of the measure, known as Question 5, while 28 percent oppose it. One-third of voters are still undecided on the issue.

Bucci said a UMass poll conducted last month found nearly twice as much support for Question 5, because at least in theory many people support universal health care.

But a flurry of ads paid for largely by health maintenance organizations have convinced some voters the proposal would have negative consequences on the state's existing health care system, Bucci said.

"Some of that previous support has moved into 'Don't know,' so it's still in flux at this point," Bucci said. "People are beginning to recognize the complexity of this."

Kennedy holds a wide lead over his challengers, Republican Jack E. Robinson and Libertarian Carla Howell, according to the poll. Sixty-four percent of people said they'd vote for Kennedy, who has been in office 38 years, while 13 percent preferred Howell, and 11 percent preferred Robinson.