Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Clinton, Obama Lead McCain by Five Points in U.S.

April 08, 2008

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton holds the upper hand against Republican John McCain in the United States, according to a poll by CBS News. 48 per cent of respondents would back the New York senator in the 2008 presidential ballot, while 43 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.

In a separate contest, Illinois senator Barack Obama also leads McCain by five points.

On Apr. 4, Rodham Clinton announced her intention to establish a "poverty czar" if she becomes president, declaring, "I believe we should appoint a cabinet-level position that will be solely and fully devoted to ending poverty as we know it in America, a position that will focus the attention of our nation on this issue."

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

If the 2008 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were (...) and (...), would you vote for (...) or (...)?

McCain v. Rodham Clinton

 

Apr. 2

Mar. 18

Feb. 24

Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)

48%

46%

46%

John McCain (R)

43%

44%

46%

Other

1%

1%

1%

Won’t vote

3%

3%

2%

Depends

2%

2%

1%

Don’t know

3%

4%

4%

McCain v. Obama

 

Apr. 2

Mar. 18

Feb. 24

Barack Obama (D)

47%

48%

50%

John McCain (R)

42%

43%

38%

Other

1%

1%

1%

Won’t vote

3%

2%

2%

Depends

2%

2%

2%

Don’t know

5%

4%

7%

Source: CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,368 American adults, conducted from Mar. 28 to Apr. 2, 2008. 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

 


Complete Poll (PDF)

Archive Search

Over 19,500 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.


Advanced Search