- Former North Carolina senator John Edwards is regarded as a good presidential contender for Democratic Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 71 per cent of respondents believe the 2004 vice-presidential nominee would be an acceptable candidate in the 2008 election.

Former first lady and New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is second on the list with 69 per cent, followed by former vice-president Al Gore with 68 per cent, Massachusetts senator and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry with 59 per cent, and Delaware senator Joe Biden with 44 per cent.

Retired general Wesley Clark and current Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Howard Dean—who sought the nomination in 2004—are next with 42 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, followed by New Mexico governor Bill Richardson with 36 per cent, and former South Dakota senator Tom Daschle with 35 per cent.

Support is lower for Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold, former Virginia governor Mark Warner, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Iowa governor Tom Vilsack.

Earlier this month, Edwards visited Ohio as part of a campaign to raise the minimum wage, and declared, "I spent a lot of time in Ohio during the presidential campaign and it's one of the two or three states in the country that's struggling. The worst loss of jobs, cost of everything is going up, people are having a hard time here and I think we can do something about it."

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

I'm going to read you a list of people who may run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. For each, please tell me if you would find that person to be an acceptable nominee for president from the Democratic Party.

Archive Search

Over 19,300 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.