Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Democrats 2008: Hillary at 33%, Edwards Second

December 12, 2006

- Hillary Rodham Clinton remains the top presidential contender for Democratic Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion released by WNBC. 33 per cent of respondents would support the New York senator in a 2008 presidential primary.

Former North Carolina senator John Edwards is second with 14 per cent, followed by former vice-president Al Gore with 13 per cent, Illinois senator Barack Obama with 12 per cent, and Massachusetts senator and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry with five per cent. Support is lower for Delaware senator Joseph Biden, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Indiana senator Evan Bayh, retired general Wesley Clark, and Iowa governor Tom Vilsack.

Earlier this month, Bayh announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee, adding, "As the people get to know me, I think we'll do very well. I've been a successful two-term governor with a record of delivering results. I now have national security experience from my presence in the Senate." Bayh has recently travelled to Iowa and New Hampshire, key states in any presidential contest.

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

If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:
(Asked of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents)

Dec. 2006

Sept. 2006

Feb. 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

33%

35%

33%

John Edwards

14%

10%

16%

Al Gore

13%

16%

17%

Barack Obama

12%

n.a.

n.a.

John Kerry

5%

9%

11%

Joseph Biden

3%

5%

4%

Bill Richardson

1%

1%

2%

Evan Bayh

1%

1%

3%

Wesley Clark

1%

1%

3%

Tom Vilsack

1%

--

--

Chris Dodd

--

1%

--

Undecided

16%

16%

9%

Source: Marist College Institute for Public Opinion / WNBC
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 967 registered American voters, including 327 Democrats, 294 Republicans, and 314 independents, conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, 2006. Margin of error for the subsample of Democrats and Republican leaners is 5 per cent.

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