- Hillary Rodham Clinton begins the race for the White House as the favourite among Democratic Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 29 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a primary election.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second on the list with 22 per cent, followed by former vice-president Al Gore with 13 per cent, former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 10 per cent each, and Massachusetts senator and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry with four per cent.

Rodham Clinton—a former first lady—has served in the U.S. Senate since 2001. On Nov. 7, she earned a new six-year term in the upper house, defeating former Yonkers mayor John Spencer with 67 per cent of all cast ballots.

On Nov. 8, Rodham Clinton declined any discussion about her presidential aspirations, saying, "All I'm doing is thinking about going back to work next week in Washington. I'm going to relish this victory."

Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, defeating Republican Alan Keyes with 70 per cent of the vote. Edwards served in the upper house from 1999 to 2005.

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

Voting intention - 2008 U.S. Democratic presidential primary

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