(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton holds the upper hand in prospective United States presidential contest against Republican John McCain, according to a poll by YouGov/Polimetrix released by The Economist. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator, while 39 per cent would back the Arizona senator.

In a separate contest, Illinois senator Barack Obama holds a six-point lead over McCain.

On Feb. 7, McCain addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), saying, "I am proud to be a conservative, and I make that claim because I share with you that most basic of conservative principles: that liberty is a right conferred by our Creator, not by governments, and that the proper object of justice and the rule of law in our country is not to aggregate power to the state but to protect the liberty and property of its citizens."

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 next election for President were held today and the Democratic candidate were (...) and the Republican candidate were (...), for whom would you vote?

John McCain (R) 39% - 46% Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
John McCain (R) 38% - 44% Barack Obama (D)

Source: YouGov/Polimetrix / The Economist
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

Archive Search

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