WASHINGTON, Oct 17: New opinion polls released on Sunday showed US presidential election rivals George W. Bush and John Kerry still struggling to establish a decisive lead.

A Washington Post poll put the Republican president up 50 per cent to 47 per cent for Democratic challenger Mr Kerry. Statistically it was a dead heat, however, with a three point margin of error.

A Newsweek magazine poll of registered voters put Mr Bush on 48 per cent and Mr Kerry on 46 per cent.-APP