Favorable public reaction to his performance in the first presidential debate has boosted Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and narrowed the contest with President Bush to a tie, according to a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll.

Bush’s lead of 8 percentage points before Thursday’s debate evaporated in a survey taken Friday through Sunday. Among likely voters, Bush and Kerry are at 49% each.

[Kerry] Was judged the winner of the debate by more than 2-to-1, 57% to 25%. By 13 points, voters say Kerry expresses himself more clearly than Bush. By 10 points, they say he is more intelligent.

In the 17 states seen by both sides as most competitive, Kerry has a slight lead, 47% to 45%. Before the debate, he lagged by 7 points in those battlegrounds.