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Democrats 2008: Hillary 29%, Obama 18%
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most popular presidential hopeful for Democratic Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 29 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary.
Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 18 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 13 per cent, former U.S. vice-president Al Gore with 11 per cent, and Massachusetts senator and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry with eight per cent.
Support is lower for Delaware senator Joe Biden, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, retired general Wesley Clark, reverend Al Sharpton and Connecticut senator Chris Dodd.
On Jan. 20, Rodham Clinton officially launched her candidacy in a videotaped message, declaring, "I'm in, and I'm in to win. (...) I'm not just starting a campaign, though, I'm beginning a conversation with you, with America."
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. 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
Support for potential 2008 Democratic presidential nominees, among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who are registered to vote.
Jan. 2007 | Dec. 2006 | Nov. 2006 | |
Hillary Rodham Clinton | 29% | 33% | 31% |
Barack Obama | 18% | 20% | 19% |
John Edwards | 13% | 8% | 10% |
Al Gore | 11% | 12% | 9% |
John Kerry | 8% | 6% | 7% |
Joe Biden | 5% | 3% | 4% |
Bill Richardson | 3% | 2% | 2% |
Wesley Clark | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Al Sharpton | 1% | -- | -- |
Chris Dodd | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Tom Vilsack | -- | 1% | 1% |
Other | 2% | 2% | 2% |
None | 2% | 3% | 1% |
No opinion | 4% | 5% | 6% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 518 Democrats or Democratic leaners, conducted from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, 2007. Margin of error is 5 per cent.