John Kerry's lead drops from 62% last week to 51% in New York's Stage Delicatessen's Presidential Sandwich Poll. The poll, decidedly unscientific, lets patrons cast presidential ballots by selecting the 'George Bush' or the 'John Kerry' sandwich - which are identical except for name.

Stage co-owner Steve Auerbach is getting ready for the upcoming Republican National Convention.

'We have increased our orders of mustard, rye bread and cheesecake because straw polling shows strengthening support for the President. Since there may be considerable traffic congestion, we had our suppliers deliver early.' states Auerbach.

The restaurant, located at 834 Seventh Avenue, is beginning its seventh week of the poll. The customer base is a cross-section of the New York voting population, and due to the many people visiting the city and making the shop a priority stop, a cross-section of the nation.

For the media who must remain neutral during the convention, they are making a sandwich that is half Bush and half Kerry. 'People from the media have to eat when they are in New York,' acknowledges Auerbach. 'They shouldn't have to go without Stage Deli sandwiches because we are conducting our poll. To allow them to eat-and maintain neutrality in the election-we are making a special sandwich for those who report the news.'