(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Democratic Party supporters would like Hillary Rodham Clinton to become their nominee in the 2008 United States presidential election, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 38 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 23 per cent, followed by former U.S. vice-president Al Gore with 11 per cent, and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with six per cent.

Support is lower for New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, retired general Wesley Clark, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Delaware senator Joe Biden.

Yesterday, Edwards explained why he publicly renounced his vote to authorize the start of the coalition effort in Iraq, saying, "I thought it was important, if I believed that, to take responsibility for it and take that responsibility publicly. (...) If (Rodham Clinbton) believes the vote was wrong, then I think it's important to be honest about that. If she believes that it was not, then she can defend it. I don't believe this is very complicated."

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 next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

If the 2008 Democratic primary for president were being held today, and the candidates were (the following), for whom would you vote?

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