Monday, March 15, 2004

(CNN) -- The Clan Douglas fight to decide the final outcome of the noseless porcelain dog found in the rubble of Uday Hussein's palace is in full swing and according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Monday the race is tightening. The poll, based on interviews with 6 adult members of the Clan, including 1 likely voter, was conducted in the hours after a plea went out from CSM Patrick Douglas, the current guardian of the ceramic canine, who is seeking a home for the damaged dog before he himself returns from the battlefied in early April.

While the poll shows more people in favor of keeping the dog than opposed, the numbers fall within the polls margin of error of +/- 85% and therefore may be discounted. More troubling for the canine are several factors in the poll. When asked whether one has a favorable or unfavorable impression of the dog, 8% said favorable and more than twice as many (17%) said they viewed the dog in an unfavorable light, though a whopping 75% had no impression, which proves that the Douglas family are either a) methodical decision makers, or b) procrastinators, and it underscores the fact that undecided voters will play a key role in this election.

We will continue to bring you the very latest information on this very historic decision, all the way through election day -- this Thursday, March 18.