April 30, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding on to the lead in a United States presidential contest against Republican John McCain, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. 48 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator this year, while 45 per cent would back the Arizona senator.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding on to the lead in a United States presidential contest against Republican John McCain, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. 48 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator this year, while 45 per cent would back the Arizona senator.

Support for Rodham Clinton increased by one point in a week, while backing for McCain went up by two points. In a separate contest, Illinois senator Barack Obama also leads McCain by three points.

On Apr. 28, McCain discussed his views on health care, "As a nation, we do not uniformly deliver the best possible care. Shortfalls in patient safety and medical errors remain a dangerous reality, and too many Americans do not have health insurance. But most importantly, our health care is too expensive. We spend a staggering amount of money on health care—over $2 trillion and almost twice as much as any other country per person. Within the decade total health care spending will more than double and consume nearly one out of every five dollars in America."

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 presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Polling Data

Now I’m going to describe some different choices of candidates voters might have in this year’s presidential election. As I read each one, please tell me how you would vote if the election were being held today. Suppose you had to choose between (...), the Democrat, and John McCain, the Republican. Who would you be more likely to vote for?

McCain v. Rodham Clinton

	Apr. 25	Apr. 17	Mar. 2008
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)	48%	47%	48%
John McCain (R)	45%	43%	45%
Other / Unsure	7%	10%	6%

McCain v. Obama

	Apr. 25	Apr. 17	Mar. 2008
Barack Obama (D)	47%	48%	46%
John McCain (R)	44%	44%	45%
Other / Unsure	9%	8%	9%

Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,203 registered American voters, conducted on Apr. 24 and Apr. 25, 2008. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.