(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Few adults in the United States are voicing outright support for a prospective Democratic presidential candidate, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. Only 30 per cent of respondents say they would definitely or probably vote for former North Carolina senator John Edwards if he becomes the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2008.

Conversely, 40 per cent of respondents say they would definitely or probably not vote for Edwards next year, while 27 per cent are undecided.

Edwards—who worked as a personal injury trial attorney prior to entering politics—won the 1998 election to the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, defeating Republican incumbent Lauch Faircloth with 51.2 per cent of the vote. Edwards served in the upper house from 1999 to 2005. He was John Kerry’s running mate in the 2004 United States presidential election.

On Sept. 7, Edwards called for the creation of an international "Counterterrorism and Intelligence Treaty Organization" which would secure effective cooperation between nations in order to prevent terrorist attacks. Edwards criticized the current federal government’s concept of fighting a war on terror, saying it puts too much emphasis on military means rather than on intelligence practices. Edwards declared: "Islamic extremists wanted to frame the conflict with the U.S. as a war of civilizations, and the Bush administration, stuck in a Cold War mentality, happily complied."

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee 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 John Edwards was the Democratic nominee for president, which is closest to the way you think?

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