(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Two-in-five Democratic Party supporters in the United States would cast a ballot for Hillary Rodham Clinton in a presidential primary, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 40 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in 2008, down 11 points since October.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 30 per cent—up nine points in two months—followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 14 per cent. Support is lower for Delaware senator Joe Biden, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Connecticut senator Chris Dodd, and Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich.

On Dec. 10, Richardson discussed his energy policies, saying, "What is different, I believe, from other candidates, is I’ve done this. I’ve done this in my state. I’ve done this as Energy secretary. (...) All of us know that we’re too dependent on oil. The president was right to call it an addiction, even though he’s done practically nothing (...) and has even threatened to veto a very modest energy bill working its way through Congress."

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

Please tell me which of the following people you would be most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 467 registered Democrats, conducted from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

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