December 04, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton remains the top contender in the national race for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 37 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton remains the top contender in the national race for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 37 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 25 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 14 per cent. Support is lower for New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Delaware senator Joe Biden, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Connecticut senator Chris Dodd.

On Dec. 1, Edwards discussed wealth distribution, saying, "The cause of ending poverty in America is a cause that’s very central to what I want to do as president, and central to my life. (...) And there is at least one other candidate on this stage who has also spoken, strongly and eloquently, about doing something about poverty in America, and it’s Senator Obama, and I applaud him for having done that: I think our voices together are more powerful than our voices alone."

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

Democratic Presidential Primary Contenders

	Dec. 2	Nov. 18	Nov. 11
Hillary Rodham Clinton	37%	42%	42%
Barack Obama	25%	23%	20%
John Edwards	14%	13%	16%
Bill Richardson	5%	3%	4%
Joe Biden	3%	3%	2%
Dennis Kucinich	2%	2%	3%
Chris Dodd	1%	1%	1%
Mike Gravel	--	--	--

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with approximately 1,300 likely Democratic primary voters, conducted from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.