Was ahead in the polls (3)
I believe the answer is:
led
'was ahead in the polls' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for led that I've seen before include "Influenced" , "associated with Zeppelin" , "Went ahead" , "Shown the way" , "Took by the hand and showed the way" .)