Poll: Democrats see Clinton as strongest, most experienced leader

[lancelva]

Hillary Clinton continues to do well as the campaign unfolds. Polls like this should help dispel the notion that Democrats "fear" her.

Poll: Democrats see Clinton as strongest, most experienced leader

(CNN) -- Potential Democratic primary voters see Sen. Hillary Clinton as more experienced and a stronger leader than her major rivals for the 2008 Democratic nomination, according to a poll released Monday.

Clinton is also viewed as the most electable candidate and the one most likely to bring change to the country, according to the results of the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll.

However, Clinton did not score as high when registered Democrats were asked which of the candidates is the most likable and the most honest, the poll showed. And a quarter of those polled don't think she can beat the Republican standard-bearer in the general election if she gets her party's nod.

Asked which of the candidates in the race has the best experience to be president, Clinton was the choice of 59 percent, compared to 11 percent for former Sen. John Edwards and just 9 percent for Sen. Barack Obama, who is now running second to Clinton in national polls.

The poll's sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

When asked to pick the strongest leader, Clinton again scored far ahead of her rivals, at 47 percent, compared with 22 percent for Obama and 13 percent for Edwards. She also came out on top when voters were asked who is most qualified to be commander-in-chief, with 46 percent saying Clinton, 15 percent Obama and 13 percent Edwards.

Despite Obama's concerted efforts to portray himself as the agent of change, 40 percent of poll respondents thought Clinton is the candidate most likely to bring change, compared with 27 percent for Obama and 15 percent for Edwards.

However, the poll found Clinton and Obama are neck-and-neck when it comes to which candidate is the most likable, with 34 percent picking Obama and 31 percent Clinton. Edwards was at 19 percent.

As far as who is the most honest, 28 percent said Clinton, 24 percent picked Obama and 19 percent chose Edwards.

Asked which candidate has the best chance of winning the November 2008 general election, 55 percent said Clinton, putting her well ahead of Obama, at 19 percent, and Edwards, at 12 percent.

When asked whether Clinton can beat the GOP nominee, 72 percent of registered Democrats said yes, while 25 percent said no.

However, she scored higher on that question than Obama. Only 57 percent of registered Democrats think he can beat the Republican nominee, while 37 percent don't.

Many Republicans are convinced Clinton would be vulnerable in a general election, with too much political baggage to be electable. Her unfavorable rating in polls has hovered around 44 percent throughout the year, an uncomfortably high number for any candidate.

However, the average of five recent polls pitting Clinton against the current Republican front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, showed Clinton slightly ahead, at 46 percent to 44 percent.

 

[letme]

I will be back here when I find a poll that "covers more then the top three"

As some loud mouthed posters here demand the questions of the poll be listed and the pollster.

Think Bill Richardson when it comes to Experience. Was he even an option ? Granted he does not have a "Rock Star Name" He is gaining here,slowly,but he is not "News Worthy " as any others,other then the "Rock Stars"

 

[RandomAccess]

So, your polls shows her in a dead heat with Giuliani? Interesting, I think I was just making that point in another thread. But are you sure you want to bring up polls (which if memory serves you have castigated recently when they didn't show what you wanted)? There are lots of polls out there that show that voters don't trust Hillary. Don't you think that's going to hurt her when it comes to November of next year and the polls are 48-48 with a few undecided? I don't know that Americans will vote for someone they don't trust.

You think the oddballs who "trust" Giuliani are going to stick with him while he keeps walking on the memories of those who died on or served on 9/11? His credibility drops with every word he utters.

 

[RandomAccess]

I will be back here when I find a poll that "covers more then the top three"

As some loud mouthed posters here demand the questions of the poll be listed and the pollster.

Think Bill Richardson when it comes to Experience. Was he even an option ? Granted he does not have a "Rock Star Name" He is gaining here,slowly,but he is not "News Worthy " as any others,other then the "Rock Stars"

Yeah, you'd like to see Richardson get the Dem nomination. . . even Mark Foley could beat him!

 

[letme]

He was good enough to work for Billy,Governed a state, helped free remains of died Military in N.K. Etc,,,Etc

Seems like a good record off the starting block to me !

 

[RandomAccess]

He was good enough to work for Billy,Governed a state, helped free remains of died Military in N.K. Etc,,,Etc

Seems like a good record off the starting block to me !

This buffoon?

Then, by all means, vote for him. But, you'll have to change sides to do it, right? Better still, Letme, why don't you stay in your party and vote for Tom Tancredo? Tell all your friends to vote for 'im, too! He seems like a nice guy and has a pleasant smile!

I rest my case.

 

[letme]

There is Much,Much more to worry about then a guy who is not a scientist when it comes to to genetics and the x/y gay thing. Yes it was a "GAY" debate,he fell,, So.

Tancredo is great about the Illegals,but that is all he is about.

Don't pigeon-hole me into that I only vote on party lines,never have,never will. This AMERICAN PROCCES is about finding the best PERSON. Not best Party....s opposed to what blinded yellow dogs do.

 

[RandomAccess]

There is Much,Much more to worry about then a guy who is not a scientist when it comes to to genetics and the x/y gay thing. Yes it was a "GAY" debate,he fell,, So.

Tancredo is great about the Illegals,but that is all he is about.

Don't pigeon-hole me into that I only vote on party lines,never have,never will. This AMERICAN PROCCES is about finding the best PERSON. Not best Party....s opposed to what blinded yellow dogs do.

Uh, we're talking about the decision of who's getting their party's nomination here. Wouldn't you have to become a Democrat to vote for a Democrat in the primaries? Or, don't Iowa primaries work that way? I wasn't anywhere near the inference you took from it. . . that you vote on party lines (although, your arguments in this forum would suggest bli. . . never mind).

 

[letme]

We can declare a change of party on Caucus night.

Uh, we're talking about the decision of who's getting their party's nomination here.

Um I am sorry ....I thought I could talk in your DEMOCRATS only thread about who should be the anointed one.

 

[letme]

BTW If Billary does get the nomination,whom would she pick as a V.P. ? It's a given it will-not be Edwards or Bareback. Wouldn't Richardson be a smart move ? Exper. 1/2 Hispanic. Non-offense to either side ?

 

[PER4MER]

Richardson would be a "non-offense" running mate?

I hardly think so.

 

[springboksfan]

This buffoon?
<snip>

Dear god. Even W was bright enough (or was it Cheney?) to say, "I don't know."

While I wasn't a Richardson supporter before, I am definitely not one now. Idiot.

 

[RandomAccess]

We can declare a change of party on Caucus night.

Um I am sorry ....I thought I could talk in your DEMOCRATS only thread about who should be the anointed one.

Stop trying to paint me the bad guy here, Letme. I never said you couldn't post here. . . I was pointing out what I suspect to be your veiled reasoning for supporting Richardson here. Sheesh.

 

[yeeeaaahhh]

Hillary Clinton scares me.
The United States is closer than ever to a dictatorship. Pres. Bush as aquired so much power it's crazy.
We need a leader who will give back that power where it needs to be. And there is doubt that Clinton will do that.
Obama, as well as Edwards is more likely to fufil the needs that this country has. So what if Obama is young and "un-experienced". Let's do that! This country needs new ideas! It needs a fresh look on things!
Lets give America what it needs!

 

[RandomAccess]

Hillary Clinton scares me.
The United States is closer than ever to a dictatorship. Pres. Bush as aquired so much power it's crazy.
We need a leader who will give back that power where it needs to be. * And there is doubt that Clinton will do that.Obama, as well as Edwards is more likely to fufil the needs that this country has. **So what if Obama is young and "un-experienced". Let's do that! This country needs new ideas! It needs a fresh look on things!
Lets give America what it needs!

* What's your basis for this belief?

** Do you really believe we want someone as the head of the free world who lacks the benefit of experience?