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Democrats 2008: Hillary 38%, Obama at 23%
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - More Democratic Party supporters in the United States believe Hillary Rodham Clinton should be their presidential candidate in 2008, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 38 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary, up seven points since mid-April.
Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 23 per cent, followed by former U.S. vice-president Al Gore with 14 per cent, and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 12 per cent. Support is lower for Delaware senator Joe Biden, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, and retired general Wesley Clark.
Earlier this month, Clark—who has not officially announced he is running for the Democratic presidential nomination—participated in an ad campaign criticizing the federal government's policies in Iraq. Clark claims current U.S. president George W. Bush "is not listening to the troops and is not supporting them."
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican 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
Support for potential 2008 Democratic presidential nominees, among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who are registered to vote.
May 6 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 5 | |
Hillary Rodham Clinton | 38% | 31% | 38% |
Barack Obama | 23% | 26% | 19% |
Al Gore | 14% | 15% | 14% |
John Edwards | 12% | 16% | 15% |
Joe Biden | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Bill Richardson | 2% | 3% | 2% |
Dennis Kucinich | 1% | 1% | -- |
Wesley Clark | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Al Sharpton | -- | 2% | -- |
Chris Dodd | -- | 1% | -- |
Mike Gravel | -- | 1% | 1% |
Other | 1% | -- | 2% |
None | 1% | 1% | 1% |
No opinion | 4% | 3% | 5% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 491 Democrats or Democratic leaners, conducted from May 4 to May 6, 2007. Margin of error is 5 per cent.