Jan. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts has taken a national lead among Democratic presidential hopefuls and pulled ahead of President George W. Bush in a head-to-head match-up, according to a Newsweek poll.

Kerry was supported for the Democratic nomination by 30 percent of Democratic voters, more than double the backing of his closest rivals, North Carolina Senator John Edwards with 13 percent, and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean and former General Wesley Clark with 12 percent each, the poll showed.

Matched against Republican Bush, Kerry led 49 percent to 46 percent in a poll of all registered voters, Newsweek said in a press release. According to the poll, 52 percent of voters want Bush to be defeated in the U.S. presidential election this November, compared with 44 percent who want Bush to win.

Kerry is the only Democrat leading Bush, according to the poll. Bush leads Clark 48 percent to 47 percent; Bush leads Edwards 49 percent to 46 percent; Bush leads Dean 50 percent to 45 percent; and Bush leads Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman 49 percent to 45 percent, the poll said.

Kerry's campaign for the Democratic nomination gained a boost from his victory last Monday in the Iowa caucuses. The New Hampshire primary will be held Tuesday, and polls show Kerry leading in that state, too.

Dean's Slide

Before the Iowa caucuses, polls showed Dean to be the Democratic frontrunner nationwide. Two weeks ago, a Newsweek poll found Dean supported by 24 percent of Democratic voters, a level of backing that fell by half in the new Newsweek poll.

Bush's approval rating declined to 50 percent in the new poll from 54 percent in the poll two weeks ago. The latest Newsweek poll also found that 52 percent of registered voters said they were dissatisfied the way things are going in the U.S.

According to the poll, 83 percent of voters said the economy and jobs will determine how they vote in November. Among other priorities for voters are education, health care and the situation in Iraq, Newsweek said.

For the Newsweek poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates International interviewed 1,006 adults aged 18 and older on Jan. 22 and 23. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. This poll is part of the Feb. 2 issue of Newsweek.

Last Updated: January 24, 2004 13:41 EST