Most Electable Democratic Candidate

73% of Democrats See Clinton as Electable, 66% Say the Same of Obama

Monday, December 03, 2007

Seventy-three percent (73%) of Democrats say that New York Senator Hillary Clinton is at least somewhat likely to win the White House if nominated by her party. That’s down eight from 81% a month ago and down two from 75% two months ago. Currently, 43% of Democrats believe she is Very Likely to win it all if nominated. No other candidate—Republican or Democrat—comes close to that figure.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Democrats believe that Illinois Senator Barack Obama is at least somewhat likely to emerge victorious in the general election if nominated by his party. That figure is little changed from a month ago and includes 25% who believe he would be Very Likely to win the general election.

John Edwards lags slightly behind his competitors in this category—58% of Democrats think the former North Carolina Senator would be at least somewhat likely to win. Two months ago, 73% thought that Edwards would be at least somewhat likely to win. For Bill Richardson, the numbers are more bleak. Just 33% of Democrats believe he has a decent chance while 58% believe the New Mexico Governor would be unlikely to win.

These figures come as Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are locked in a very tight race in Iowa. Clinton still leads in national polls and in New Hampshire but her lead in both places is getting smaller.

Among all voters, including Republicans and those not affiliated with either major party, 60% believe that Clinton would be at least somewhat likely to win if nominated. Thirty-five percent (35%) say she would not be very likely to win. Six-out-of-ten Republicans see a Democratic victory as unlikely if Clinton is nominated while 56% of unaffiliateds say she is at least somewhat likely to win.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of all voters believe that Obama is at least somewhat likely to win. Forty-five percent (45%) say the same about Edwards.

In the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, Clinton remains the clear frontrunner with Obama in second place and Edwards in third.

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Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

This national telephone survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports November 28-December 2, 2007. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Most Electable Candidate Among Democratic Voters
Dem Candidate	Likely	Not Likely
Hillary Clinton	83%	14%
Barack Obama	66%	28%
John Edwards	58%	35%
Bill Richardson	33%	58%

Most Electable Candidate Among All Voters
Dem Candidate	Likely	Not Likely
Hillary Clinton	60%	35%
Barack Obama	56%	37%
John Edwards	45%	49%
Bill Richardson	25%	64%

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