March 05, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Republican John McCain holds the upper hand in a United States presidential contest against Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a poll by Bloomberg released by the Los Angeles Times. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Arizona senator, while 40 per cent would back the New York senator.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Republican John McCain holds the upper hand in a United States presidential contest against Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a poll by Bloomberg released by the Los Angeles Times. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Arizona senator, while 40 per cent would back the New York senator.

Support for McCain increased by four points since January, while backing for Rodham Clinton fell by six points. In a separate match-up, McCain leads Illinois senator Barack Obama by two points.

Yesterday, Rodham Clintoin discussed her bid, saying, "This is one of the most civil and positive primary campaigns that I can remember. There are contrasts and it is imperative that those contrasts be drawn because voters in Democratic primaries have to decide who they think would be both the best president and the best nominee and you can’t do that unless you put out your record and what the differences are. (...) There is no doubt we’re going to have a unified party behind our nominee. Obviously I hope that nominee will be me."

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

If the November 2008 general election for president were being held today and the choices were (...), the Democrat, and John McCain, the Republican, for whom would you vote?

McCain v. Rodham Clinton

	Feb. 2008	Jan. 2008	Oct. 2007
John McCain (R)	46%	42%	38%
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)	40%	46%	48%
Other	5%	5%	6%
Unsure	9%	7%	8%

McCain v. Obama

	Feb. 2008	Jan. 2008	Oct. 2007
John McCain (R)	44%	42%	36%
Barack Obama (D)	42%	41%	44%
Other	5%	5%	7%
Unsure	9%	12%	13%

Source: Bloomberg / Los Angeles Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,246 registered American voters, conducted from Feb. 21 to Feb. 25, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.