January 27, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand in a prospective United States presidential contest against Republican Mike Huckabee, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 51 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator, while 35 per cent would back the former Arkansas governor.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand in a prospective United States presidential contest against Republican Mike Huckabee, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 51 per cent of respondents would vote for the Illinois senator, while 35 per cent would back the former Arkansas governor.

Support for Obama in this match-up increased by six points since early December, while backing for Huckabee fell by the same margin. In a separate contest, Huckabee trails New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton by eight points.

Yesterday, Huckabee called for increased funding for the country’s infrastructure needs, saying, "It would not only create American jobs, but would do something about traffic bottlenecks that desperately needs to be done."

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

Huckabee v. Obama

	Jan. 20	Dec. 2	Nov. 4
Barack Obama (D)	51%	45%	49%
Mike Huckabee (R)	35%	41%	38%

Huckabee v. Rodham Clinton

	Jan. 20	Dec. 20	Dec. 2
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)	48%	47%	46%
Mike Huckabee (R)	40%	43%	45%

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted from Jan. 18 to Jan. 20, 2008. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.