Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Canadians Want a Democrat as U.S. President

January 15, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Canadian adults would prefer to have a member of the Democratic Party in charge of the United States government, according to a poll by Decima Research released by the Canadian Press. 47 per cent of respondents would like to see a Democrat win the 2008 election.

While 42 per cent of respondents offer no opinion on the neighbouring country's presidential contest, 12 per cent say they would like to see a Republican emerge victorious.

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.

In a survey released in October 2004, a month before the presidential election, a majority of Canadians said they preferred a Kerry victory.

In November 2004, Bush officially visited Canada for the first time. Ottawa was the site of a mostly peaceful protest with an estimated 5,000 demonstrators. During a press conference, Bush said he wanted to "thank the few Canadians who came out to wave—with all five fingers—for their hospitality."

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

Thinking about the 2008 presidential election in the United States, would you prefer to see a Democrat or a Republican elected president?

A Democrat

47%

A Republican

12%

No opinion

42%

Source: Decima Research / Canadian Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,028 Canadian adults, conducted from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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