WASHINGTON — Widespread unease over the country's direction and doubts about President Bush's policies on Iraq and the economy helped propel Sen. John F. Kerry to a solid lead among voters nationwide, according to a new Times poll.

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It is always better to be ahead than behind. However, polls are often inaccurate at this stage of the game. During the mid-summer months of the 1992 election Bill Clinton was running third behind George Bush the 1st and Ross Perot. Michael Dukakis was ahead of George Bush the 1st at this point in 1988. Anything can happen. But it still looks pretty good right now.