All
references must be sourced WNBC/Marist Poll
Contact: Dr. Lee M. Miringoff
Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho
845.575.5050
National
Poll: Campaign 2008
This WNBC/Marist Poll reports:
·
Hillary
Clinton is a strong favorite among Democrats, but is she electable? Hillary
Clinton outdistances her closest Democratic rivals by more than two to one
among Democrats and Democratic leaning independents for her party’s
nomination. Democrats think she is
neither too liberal nor too conservative.
Most of them would like to see her enter the presidential contest in
2008, and many think she will. But Senator
Clinton has much more convincing to do among a general electorate that is
divided over whether they want to see her in the race. Only a slim majority of voters say they will
consider supporting her, and the electorate divides evenly among voters who would
vote for a woman for president on the Democratic ticket and those who would
not. Hillary Clinton runs competitively,
yet behind, the two top Republican frontrunners. Most voters feel her electability is not an
issue in deciding their vote, although a significant proportion of Democrats
voice at least some concern. Should she
decide to enter the 2008 presidential contest, except for a majority of Democrats,
most voters do not think she is likely to win.
Ř
Senator Hillary Clinton receives 33% among
Democrats and Democratic leaning independents for her party’s 2008 presidential
nomination. She is followed by former
Senator John Edwards with 14%, former Vice President Al Gore with 13%, and
Senator Barack Obama with 12%. Eight
other potential Democratic candidates trail with single digits. 16% of Democrats and Democratic leaning
independent voters are undecided.
Question Wording: If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are: (asked of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents)
Democrats
|
December
2006 |
October
2006 |
February
2006 |
|
Hillary
Clinton |
33% |
35% |
33% |
|
John
Edwards |
14% |
10% |
16% |
|
Al Gore |
13% |
16% |
17% |
|
Barack Obama |
12% |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
John
Kerry |
5% |
9% |
11% |
|
Joe
Biden |
3% |
5% |
4% |
|
Bill Richardson |
1% |
1% |
2% |
|
Evan
Bayh |
1% |
1% |
3% |
|
Wesley
Clark |
1% |
1% |
3% |
|
Tom
Vilsack |
1% |
<1% |
<1% |
|
Al Sharpton |
<1% |
n.a. |
n.a. |
|
Chris Dodd |
<1% |
1% |
n.a. |
|
Other |
n.a. |
5% |
2% |
|
Undecided |
16% |
16% |
9% |
Ř
44% of registered voters think Senator Clinton
is ideologically about right but 41% say she is too liberal. There is a wide partisan divide. 73% of Democrats think she is ideologically
well positioned compared with 73% of Republicans who characterize her as too
liberal. Independent voters are more divided. 44% believe her views are about right, and 38%
think she is too liberal.
Question
Wording: Do you think Hillary
Clinton is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?
|
Registered
Voters |
Too Liberal |
Too Conservative |
About Right |
Unsure |
|
December 2006 |
41% |
6% |
44% |
9% |
|
Democrat |
12% |
7% |
73% |
8% |
|
Republican |
73% |
5% |
13% |
9% |
|
Independent |
38% |
7% |
44% |
11% |
|
October 2006 |
40% |
6% |
43% |
11% |
|
February 2006 |
42% |
6% |
45% |
7% |
|
October 2005 |
39% |
6% |
46% |
9% |
Ř
Voters divide over whether they want Senator
Clinton to run for president in 2008.
48% of the national electorate, including 76% of Democrats, want to see
her enter the presidential contest. 50%
of registered voters do not want her to run including 80% of Republicans and a
majority of independent voters.
Question Wording: Do you want Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2008 or not?
|
Registered
Voters |
Yes, Run |
No, Don’t Run |
Unsure |
|
December 2006 |
48% |
50% |
2% |
|
Democrat |
76% |
21% |
3% |
|
Republican |
17% |
80% |
3% |
|
Independent |
47% |
52% |
1% |
|
October 2006 |
46% |
51% |
3% |
|
February 2006 |
47% |
51% |
2% |
|
October 2005 |
48% |
49% |
3% |
|
May 2005 |
49% |
48% |
3% |
|
February 2005 |
46% |
49% |
5% |
|
December 2004 |
38% |
50% |
12% |
Ř
76% of
voters nationwide think Hillary Clinton will run for president in 2008, an
increase from 64% in October.
Question Wording: Do you think Hillary Clinton will run for president in 2008 or not?
|
Registered
Voters |
Will Run |
Will Not Run |
Unsure |
|
December 2006 |
76% |
17% |
7% |
|
Democrat |
75% |
15% |
10% |
|
Republican |
79% |
16% |
5% |
|
Independent |
75% |
20% |
5% |
|
October 2006 |
64% |