(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton is ahead of Republican John McCain in the United States, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 47 per cent of respondents would back the New York senator in this year’s presidential election, while 45 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.

Support for Rodham Clinton increased by one point since February, while backing for McCain fell by five points. In a separate match-up, McCain trails Illinois senator Barack Obama by two points.

Yesterday, House speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the possibility of Rodham Clinton and Obama running together, saying, "I do think we will have a dream team, it just won’t be those two names. Whoever our nominee is and whoever he or she is and whoever he or she chooses, will be a dream team as the Democrats go forward. (...) Take it from me, that won’t be the ticket."

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 presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Polling Data

Possible match-ups - 2008 U.S. presidential election

McCain v. Rodham Clinton

McCain v. Obama

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 4,372 registered American voters, conducted from Mar. 7 to Mar. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 2 per cent.

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