Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- 2008: The U.S. Electoral College
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
- Death Penalty
- Economy and Globalization
- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
- Global Warming
- Gordon Brown
- Hamas
- Immigration
- Iran
- Iraq War
- Kevin Rudd
- Latin America
- New Zealand Election 2008
- Nicolas Sarkozy
- North Korea
- Oil and Gas
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Silvio Berlusconi
- Stem Cell Research
- Stephen Harper
- Terrorism
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Democrats
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Republicans
- U.S. Election 2008: The Primaries
- Vladimir Putin
- Yasuo Fukuda
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Obama, Hillary Lead McCain in 2008 U.S. Race
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama is holding on to the lead in a United States presidential contest against Republican John McCain, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 49 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator this year, while 44 per cent would back the Arizona senator.
Support for Obama fell by four points since early March, while backing for McCain increased by four points. In a separate contest, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton trails McCain by three points.
On Apr. 18, McCain discussed his views on the economy, saying, "I think if you look at the overall record and millions of jobs have been created, etcetera, etcetera, you could make an argument that there’s been great progress economically over that period of time. But that’s no comfort. That’s no comfort to families now that are facing these tremendous economic challenges."
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 2008 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were John McCain, the Republican, and (...), the Democrat, for whom would you vote?
McCain v. Obama
|
Apr. 13 |
Mar. 2 |
Jan. 30 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
49% |
53% |
47% |
|
John McCain (R) |
44% |
40% |
48% |
|
Other / Neither |
3% |
2% |
2% |
|
Won’t vote |
3% |
1% |
1% |
|
Unsure |
2% |
3% |
2% |
McCain v. Rodham Clinton
|
Apr. 13 |
Mar. 2 |
Jan. 30 |
|
|
John McCain (R) |
48% |
47% |
50% |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
45% |
49% |
45% |
|
Other / Neither |
3% |
2% |
1% |
|
Won’t vote |
2% |
1% |
1% |
|
Unsure |
1% |
1% |
2% |
Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,197 American adults, conducted from Apr. 10 to Apr. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.