(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama is the most popular presidential candidate in the United States, according to a poll by Zogby International. At least 47 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator in head-to-head contests against five prospective Republican rivals.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Democrat Barack Obama is the most popular presidential candidate in the United States, according to a poll by Zogby International. At least 47 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator in head-to-head contests against five prospective Republican rivals.
Obama holds a four-point lead over Arizona senator John McCain, a five-point advantage over former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a nine-point lead over former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a 16-point advantage over actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson, and an 18-point lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
In other match-ups, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton trails McCain, Huckabee and Giuliani, but leads both Thompson and Romney. Former North Carolina senator John Edwards trails McCain and is almost tied with Giuliani, but holds the upper hand in contests against Huckabee, Thompson and Romney.
Yesterday, Obama expressed confidence in a good showing at the Iowa caucus, saying, "We have as good of an organization as I think people have ever seen in Iowa, and this is going to be a tight race. I think the polls are going to be bouncing up and down over the next five days, but what we’re confident about is that if our folks come to the caucus and participate, then we’re going to do very well."
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
Possible match-ups – 2008 U.S. presidential election
McCain v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
47% |
45% |
46% |
|
John McCain (R) |
43% |
42% |
43% |
Huckabee v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
47% |
|
Mike Huckabee (R) |
42% |
Giuliani v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
48% |
46% |
48% |
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
39% |
42% |
42% |
Thompson v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
52% |
48% |
52% |
|
Fred Thompson (R) |
36% |
40% |
35% |
Romney v. Obama
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
53% |
49% |
52% |
|
Mitt Romney (R) |
35% |
35% |
35% |
McCain v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
John McCain (R) |
49% |
43% |
47% |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
42% |
45% |
43% |
Huckabee v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
|
|
Mike Huckabee (R) |
48% |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
43% |
Giuliani v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
46% |
41% |
48% |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
42% |
46% |
43% |
Thompson v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
48% |
47% |
48% |
|
Fred Thompson (R) |
42% |
41% |
41% |
Romney v. Rodham Clinton
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
46% |
48% |
48% |
|
Mitt Romney (R) |
44% |
38% |
40% |
McCain v. Edwards
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
John McCain (R) |
46% |
43% |
46% |
|
John Edwards (D) |
42% |
43% |
41% |
Giuliani v. Edwards
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
45% |
46% |
47% |
|
John Edwards (D) |
44% |
43% |
43% |
Huckabee v. Edwards
|
Dec. 2007 |
|
|
John Edwards (D) |
47% |
|
Mike Huckabee (R) |
41% |
Romney v. Edwards
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
John Edwards (D) |
50% |
47% |
50% |
|
Mitt Romney (R) |
38% |
38% |
36% |
Thompson v. Edwards
|
Dec. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
May 2007 |
|
|
John Edwards (D) |
51% |
46% |
48% |
|
Fred Thompson (R) |
35% |
40% |
40% |
Source: Zogby International
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 likely American voters, conducted from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14, 2007. Margin of error is 4.9 per cent.
