The American Idol vote was so close this week, it was a matter of decimal points.


But by lunchtime today, Taylor Hicks had a substantial lead over Katharine McPhee in a Free Press Web poll.

With more than 600 votes submitted, Taylor was leading with nearly 70 percent of the vote, while Katharine trailed with about 30 percent.

And what may be another good omen for Taylor: Idol judge Simon Cowell said on Mondays Tonight Show that he thought Taylor would win the top-rated singing competition. Cowell predicted  correctly  that it would come down to Taylor and Katharine next week. The finale airs on Fox, May 23 and 24.

According to Wednesday nights results episode, Taylor and Katharine are in a neck-in-neck race. The 50 million votes that the show received this week broke down like this: 33.06 for Elliott Yamin, who was eliminated, and 33.26 percent and 33.68 percent for the remaining two finalists  but nothing on whether Taylor or Katharine got the higher number.

Elliott made his departure with dignity Wednesday night, telling Ryan Seacrest he felt blessed and singing I Believe to My Soul as his farewell song.

In other Idol news today:

A representative from 19 Management, part of the Idol marketing machine, said in an interview posted on Entertainment Weeklys Web site that the company has looked over 200 songs in the search for which one will be the final Idol song next week.

It has to reflect the emotional journey that the viewers and the contestants have gone through, said Iain Pirie. As a TV moment, it has to feel like an emotional conclusion. It has to be something that we hope is going to work at radio when the show is over.