RINDGE, N.H. (AP) – A new poll shows Democrats leading the top of the ticket in New Hampshire.

The Franklin Pierce College poll released Thursday showed Democrat John Kerry leading President Bush 49 percent to 42 percent with Ralph Nader at 1 percent and 8 percent unsure.

In the gubernatorial race, Democrat John Lynch led Republican incumbent Craig Benson 47 percent to 42 percent and 11 percent undecided.

The poll of 617 likely New Hampshire voters, conducted by telephone on Oct. 3 and 4 after the first Kerry-Bush debate, had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

In the U.S. Senate and congressional races, Republican incumbents had double-digit leads over their Democratic challengers.

Frank Cohen, polling director, said that while Republicans and Democrats largely supported their party candidates in the presidential election, it was independents who gave Kerry overwhelming support, 64 percent to 26 percent.

The poll showed women favoring Kerry 57 percent to 36 percent, while men favored Bush 49 percent to 41 percent.

In the gubernatorial contest, Republicans favored Benson 68 percent to 18 percent with 13 percent undecided, while Lynch received more solid Democratic support – 81 percent to 15 percent with 3 percent undecided. Among independents, Lynch led 54 percent to 32 percent with 14 percent undecided.