The race for London's mayor sees Boris Johnson just two points ahead of incumbent, Ken Livingstone, a poll showed today.
Conservative candidate Mr Johnson would narrowly win the May 1st election with 51 per cent of the votes - once second preference votes are counted - ahead of Labour's Mr Livingstone on 49 per cent, the GuardianICM poll said.
On first choice votes, Mr Johnson leads by an even narrower margin, 42 per cent, with Mr Livingstone on 41 per cent and the Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick trailing on 10 per cent.
The second choice votes of Liberal Democrat and other party voters look set to be the deciding factor in the contest. The poll found that 43 per cent of LibDem voters would use their second vote in the election's alternative voting system to back Mr Johnson, with only 30 per cent plumping for Mr Livingstone.
Respondents said Mr Livingstone would be best for the environment and was most likely to get on with the job. But they put Mr Johnson ahead when asked who would maintain the highest standards of public office.
Mr Livingstone's campaign has been dogged by accusations of cronyism at City Hall and the resignation of his race adviser Lee Jasper.