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 Still Leads by Six Points in U.S. Race
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand in the United States presidential race, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator in this year’s ballot, while 41 per cent would support Arizona senator John McCain.
In a contest incorporating two other candidates, Obama is first with 48 per cent, followed by McCain with 35 per cent, independent candidate Ralph Nader with five per cent, and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr with two per cent.
Earlier this month, Republican Ohio congressman and House minority leader John Boehner discussed Barr’s effect on the race, saying, "A vote for Bob Barr—you might as well vote for Barack Obama. If you want to throw your vote away, that’s fine. But that’s what it would be."
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 John McCain were the Republican candidate and Barack Obama were the Democratic candidate, for whom would you vote?
|
Jul. 21 |
Jun. 9 |
Apr. 28 |
|
|
Barack Obama (D) |
47% |
47% |
46% |
|
John McCain (R) |
41% |
41% |
43% |
|
Depends |
2% |
2% |
1% |
|
Neither / Other |
4% |
4% |
5% |
|
Not sure |
6% |
6% |
5% |
If the next election for president were held today, and John McCain were the Republican candidate, Barack Obama were the Democratic candidate, Bob Barr were the Libertarian candidate, and Ralph Nader were an independent candidate, for whom would you vote?
|
Barack Obama (D) |
48% |
|
John McCain (R) |
35% |
|
Ralph Nader (I) |
5% |
|
Bob Barr (L) |
2% |
|
Depends |
1% |
|
Neither / Other |
3% |
|
Not sure |
6% |
Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from Jul. 18 to Jul. 21, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.