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 Leads McCain by Eight Points in U.S.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the lead against Republican John McCain in the United States, according to a poll by Zogby International released by Reuters. 48 per cent of respondents would back the Illinois senator in this year’s presidential election, while 40 per cent would vote for the Arizona senator.
Support for Obama increased by three points since April, while backing for McCain fell by five points. In a separate match-up, McCain is tied with New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
On May 26, former Cuban president Fidel Castro described Obama as "without doubt (...), from the social and human point, the most advanced candidate" running for president in the U.S, adding, "Obama overestimates the possibilities of technology in the struggle against climate change, although he is more conscious than (current U.S. president George W.) Bush of the risks and the little time available."
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
Possible match-ups - 2008 U.S. presidential election
McCain v. Obama
|
May 2008 |
Apr. 2008 |
Mar. 2008 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
48% |
45% |
40% |
|
John McCain (R) |
40% |
45% |
46% |
|
Other / Unsure |
12% |
10% |
14% |
McCain v. Rodham Clinton
|
|
May 2008 |
Apr. 2008 |
Mar. 2008 |
|
John McCain (R) |
43% |
46% |
48% |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
43% |
41% |
40% |
|
Other / Unsure |
14% |
13% |
12% |
Source: Zogby International / Reuters
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,176 likely American voters, conducted from May 15 to May 18, 2008. Margin of error is 3.0 per cent.