(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand against Republican Rudy Giuliani in a prospective United States presidential contest, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in next year’s election, while 42 per cent would back the former New York City mayor.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand against Republican Rudy Giuliani in a prospective United States presidential contest, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in next year’s election, while 42 per cent would back the former New York City mayor.
Support for Obama in this match-up increased by two points since early September, while backing for Giuliani fell by the same margin. In a separate contest, Obama holds a six-point advantage over actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson.
Yesterday, Obama discussed his views on Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—who was invited to speak at Columbia University in New York—declaring, "The hateful lies that he may utter about Israel, the Holocaust—the answer is for us to promote the truth and show the world the values and ideals that we hold dear. One of the values we believe in is the value of academic freedom. He has a right to speak."
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican George W. Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.
Original Release from Rasmussen Reports
Polling Data
Possible match-ups – 2008 U.S. presidential election
Giuliani v. Obama
|
Sept. 18 |
Sept. 4 |
Aug. 21 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
47% |
45% |
45% |
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
42% |
44% |
43% |
Thompson v. Obama
|
Sept. 18 |
Sept. 4 |
Aug. 21 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
47% |
46% |
45% |
|
Fred Thompson (R) |
41% |
42% |
41% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18, 2007. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.
