RALEIGH, N.C. – Democrat John Kerry (search) trails President Bush in North Carolina, but a poll out Wednesday suggests Kerry could be competitive in the state if Sen. John Edwards (search) were on the Democratic ticket.
Kerry, expected to be the Democratic presidential nominee, is considering a number of potential running mates, including Edwards, a North Carolina senator.
In a head-to-head matchup, Bush is backed by 48 percent while Kerry is backed by 41 percent. Three percent would back independent Ralph Nader (search), according to the Mason-Dixon poll sponsored by several news organizations in the state.
If Edwards were Kerry's running mate, thdwards at 45 percent. North Carolina has backed Republicans in every presidential election since 1976.
Kerry spokesman Anthony Coley was noncommittal in response: "John Kerry has said that his vice-presidential selection process is personal and private."
The poll of 625 registered voters was taken May 14-17 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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