(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama has extended his advantage over Republican Rudy Giuliani in the early stages of the 2008 United States presidential election, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 49 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator, while 40 per cent would back the former New York City mayor.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama has extended his advantage over Republican Rudy Giuliani in the early stages of the 2008 United States presidential election, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 49 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator, while 40 per cent would back the former New York City mayor.
Support for Obama in this match-up increased by five points since November, while backing for Giuliani fell by two points. In a separate match-up, Obama leads former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee by 12 points.
In other contests, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a three-point lead over Giuliani, and a two point edge over Huckabee.
On Dec. 21, Obama praised Republican California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, saying, "What he’s doing on climate change in California is very important and significant. There are things I don’t agree with him on, but he’s taken leadership on a very difficult issue and we haven’t seen that kind of leadership in Washington."
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.
Polling Data
If the next election for president were held today, and (…) were the Republican candidate and (…) were the Democratic candidate, for whom would you vote?
Giuliani. v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
Nov. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
49% |
44% |
45% |
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
40% |
42% |
40% |
Huckabee v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
48% |
|
Mike Huckabee (R) |
36% |
Giuliani. v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
Nov. 2007 |
Sept. 2007 |
|
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
46% |
46% |
49% |
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
43% |
45% |
42% |
Huckabee v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
|
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
46% |
|
Mike Huckabee (R) |
44% |
Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 American adults, conducted from Dec. 14 to Dec. 17, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
