- Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding on to first place in the group of prospective Democratic Party presidential contenders in the United States, according to a poll by McLaughlin & Associates. 31 per cent of respondents would prefer to have the New York senator as the 2008 nominee.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second on the list with 19 per cent, followed by former vice-president Al Gore and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry with 10 per cent each, and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with six per cent.

Support is lower for Delaware senator Joseph Biden, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Indiana senator Evan Bayh, and Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold.

Rodham Clinton—a former first lady—has served in the U.S. Senate since 2001. On Nov. 7, she earned a new six-year term in the upper house, defeating former Yonkers mayor John Spencer with 67 per cent of all cast ballots.

Earlier this month, Feingold ruled out a White House bid in an e-mail to supporters, which read, "I'm sure a campaign for president would have been a great adventure. (...) I began with the feeling I didn't really want to do this but was open to the possibility that getting around the country would make me want to do it. That never happened."

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.

Polling Data

Preference for Democratic 2008 presidential nominee:

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