(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public backing for Hillary Rodham Clinton as a presidential contender increased markedly among Democratic Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary, up 10 points since December.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 15 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 12 per cent, and former U.S. vice-president Al Gore with 11 per cent. Support is lower for Delaware senator Joe Biden and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson.

On Feb. 2, all the Democratic presidential hopefuls called for an end to the Iraq war before an auditorium full of activists and members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Clinton said: "If we in Congress don't end this war before January 2009, as president I will."

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.

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If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were:

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