(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many supporters of the Democratic Party in the United States would vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton in a presidential primary, according to the Financial Dynamics Diageo/Hotline poll. 38 per cent of respondents would back the New York senator.

Massachusetts senator and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry is second with 14 per cent, followed by 2004 vice-presidential candidate and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 13 per cent.

Support is lower for Delaware senator Joseph Biden, retired general Wesley Clark, Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold, Virginia governor Mark Warner, and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson.

Rodham Clinton—a former first lady—was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, defeating Republican Rick Lazio by 12 percentage points. She ruled out a presidential bid in 2004.

If the nomination were decided in a head-to-head contest, 57 per cent of respondents would vote for Rodham Clinton, and 30 per cent would back Kerry.

Rodham Clinton raised more than $6 million U.S. for her Senate re-election campaign during the first three months of this year. Her two prospective Republican rivals—former Yonkers mayor John Spencer and former Reagan administration official Kathleen McFarland—reported less than $500,000 U.S. over the same period.

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. Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, whom would you support if the candidates were (the following)? If you absolutely had to choose, which one person would you support?

Now, suppose the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were being held today between Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Kerry, for whom would you vote? Which way would you lean as of today?

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