Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry leads President George W. Bush by 6 percentage points among likely voters in Michigan, according to a Gallup poll conducted for Cable News Network and USA Today.

Kerry received the support of 50 percent to 44 percent for Bush among 673 people who said they were likely to cast ballots Nov. 2. Last month, Kerry received 48 percent to 45 percent for Bush, within the 3 percentage point margin for error, in a poll by the Manchester, New Hampshire-based American Research Group.

Michigan is one of the ``battleground'' states that both campaigns say will be key to the election. The state has 17 of the 270 electoral votes needed to be elected president.

The new poll, conducted Sept. 9-12, has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. Independent Ralph Nader received the support of 1 percent. The earlier survey of 600 likely voters was conducted Aug. 17-19, before the Republican National Convention, which ended Sept. 2.

Among registered voters, Kerry received the support of 50 percent to 43 percent for Bush, with 1 percent for Nader, the new poll found.

Kerry, 60, a four-term Massachusetts senator, is scheduled to speak tomorrow before the Detroit Economic Club on what campaign advisers said would be a speech on the economy.

Job Losses

Michigan lost 25,000 jobs last month, as overall the U.S. added 144,000 jobs. Michigan's unemployment rate rose to 6.8 percent in July, up from 6.5 percent in June and up more than 2 percentage points from the state's 4.6 unemployment rate when Bush took office.

Bush yesterday visited two Michigan counties that he lost in 2000. Bush lost Michigan to Democratic nominee Al Gore by 217,000 votes out of 4.2 million cast.

A review of state-by-state polls and historical voting data by Bloomberg News shows Bush ahead in 22 states, including Texas, with 184 electoral votes. Kerry leads in 11 states, including New York, with 161 electoral votes. In 17 states that have 193 electoral votes, including Pennsylvania, results of the most recent polls are within the margin of error.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 14, 2004 20:03 EDT