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 in U.S. Presidential Race
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds a four-point advantage over Republican John McCain in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 45 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in this year’s presidential election, while 41 per cent would support the Arizona senator.
Support for Obama increased by two points since April, while backing for McCain dropped by five points.
In a contest incorporating two other candidates, Obama is first with 42 per cent, followed by McCain with 39 per cent, independent candidate Ralph Nader with four per cent, and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr with two per cent.
On Jun. 18, Barr said he expects to do well in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Indiana and West Virginia, saying, "These are states with a lot of Second Amendment enthusiasts and blue-collar Democrats who are much more likely to adopt a Bob Barr message of strong support for civil liberties, smaller government, and so forth."
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 held today, who would you vote for?
McCain v. Obama
|
Jun. 2008 |
Apr. 2008 |
Mar. 2008 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
45% |
43% |
43% |
|
John McCain (R) |
41% |
46% |
44% |
|
Other / Unsure |
14% |
11% |
13% |
What if the candidates were...?
|
Barack Obama (D) |
42% |
|
John McCain (R) |
39% |
|
Ralph Nader (I) |
4% |
|
Bob Barr (L) |
2% |
|
Other / Unsure |
14% |
Source: Opinion Dynamics / Fox News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 900 registered American voters, conducted on Jun. 17 and Jun. 18, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.