Poll: Hillary's Lead Widens Over Obama and Others

By Jeralyn, Section Hillary Clinton
Posted on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 10:04:56 AM EST
Tags: 2008 (all tags)

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A new Washington Post-ABC News Poll finds Hillary Clinton increasing her lead over Barack Obama and the other Democratic candidates:

For the first time, Clinton (N.Y.) is drawing support from a majority of Democrats -- and has opened up a lead of 33 percentage points over Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.). Her popularity, the poll suggests, is being driven by her strength on key issues and a growing perception among voters that she would best represent change.

....Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 53 percent support Clinton, compared with 20 percent for Obama and 13 percent for former senator John Edwards (N.C.).

As to her electability factor,

A clear majority of those surveyed, 57 percent, said Clinton is the Democratic candidate with the best chance on Nov. 4, 2008.

Interesting note: Edwards is seen as more electable than Obama:

More...

By contrast, 20 percent think Edwards is most electable and 16 percent think Obama is.

On the issues:

On major issues, Democrats are far more likely to trust her than her main competitors -- 52 percent trust her most on Iraq, compared with 22 percent who trust Obama most on the war and 17 percent who trust Edwards most. On health care, 66 percent trust her most to handle the issue, compared with 15 percent for Obama and 14 percent for Edwards. Half see Clinton as the candidate who best reflects the "core values" of the Democratic Party.

Another inroad for Hillary: Small donor support. Her third quarter fundraising among small donors outpaced Obama's for the first time.

Bottom line: Hillary support increases, Obama support declines and Edwards support "remains essentially stable."

The most surprising number may be her 30 point lead over Obama on Iraq. That's where he's been criticizing her the most. What happened? Why didn't it work?

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Poll: Hillary's Lead Widens Over Obama and Others | 13 comments (13 topical)

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Let, (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by HeadScratcher on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 11:08:12 AM EST

Let the dynasty continue...

People trust Hillary on Iraq? Are they effin nuts?

The best thing she has going right now is the republican candidates are weak. And the threat of a 3rd party. Reminds me of '92 all over again.

Wonder if she will take credit for "Don't ask, don't tell", the Defense of Marriage Act, Welfare Reform, NAFTA, selling satellite technology to China, etc...What a good progressive she'll be.

yup (none / 0) (#9)
by MiddleOfTheRoad on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 01:27:45 PM EST

I was kind of resigning myself to vote for Hillary when she signed on to the Iran Lieberman bill.

Now a 3rd party vote or stay at home are likely choices for me. My state is not a swing state so my vote does not count anyway.


: There are more issues besides the Iraq War (none / 0) (#11)
by Jamie on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 02:01:57 PM EST

Yup, may I remind you that there are more pressing issues besides the Iraq War. 4 possible Supreme Court Justice seats may open up. We may lose Ginsburg, Souter, Stevens and Kennedy.
Do you want to leave it to chance? I think all of you need to come to your senses.

Over 50 percent (none / 0) (#1)
by Jgarza on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 10:39:56 AM EST

She is over 50 the nomination is hers. That is an amazing feat, especially considering the field of candidates she is running against. The reason John Edwards still has that "electability" rating is because neither HIllary nor Barack take him all that seriously as a threat so no one has attacked him.

It's about experience and competence (none / 0) (#2)
by lilybart on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 11:04:15 AM EST

I believe that the country is in such dire straits, that Hillay is surging because she is seen as competent. Look at the campaign for proof of that.

Change? Not so much and that is my objection and why I adore Obama. He is RADICAL change I would love to see him win the Presidency because of the message it sends to the world.

But Hillary gives the world Bill again and the world loves him and she can get things done. Go Hillary!

She also knows how to 'get" Rudy, who is very thin-skinned and easily provoked into a meltdown.

The only worry I have is that I assume the REPS have used every means to look at all info left from the Clinton white house, including what is not legally available to them and they will work overtime to smear her. Bet they have listened to her phone calls too. But they spent 8 years investigating them and another 8 on her as Senator, so how could there be anything left??

: What makes you think..... (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by kdog on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 11:54:06 AM EST

Obama is about radical change? I could see Kucinich or Ron Paul being called radical, but Obama? He seems pretty establishment to me, establishment who gives a good speech.

Experience (none / 0) (#4)
by joejoejoe on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 11:42:00 AM EST

Senate Intelligence Chairman Bob Graham, Senate Armed Service Chairman Carl Levin, longest serving Democrat Sen. Byrd, 2nd longest serving Democrat Sen. Kennedy, and 3rd longest serving Democrat Sen. Inouye ALL voted against the AUMF/Iraq.

Sen. Clinton has experience, just not that much experience being right.

Interesting poll results. (none / 0) (#6)
by Dulcinea on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 01:09:39 PM EST

I never expected a woman to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate in my lifetime but it's actually happening. I'n confident that if elected, Clinton's performance will be a high bar to meet for anyone succeeding her.

Interesting poll results. (none / 0) (#7)
by Dulcinea on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 01:10:50 PM EST

Inevitability again (none / 0) (#8)
by koshembos on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 01:20:44 PM EST

I am afraid that inevitability of the Kerry type is taking all over again. I am less worries about radical change, it may or may not happen later, than about her flat delivery, wooden appearance, charisma-less nature and the fact that interesting candidates such as Edwards, was for him in the primaries even after Kerry's inevitability became a fact, or Dodd are ignored without regard to their merit as candidates.

Like a former comment, Obama may be a great guy, but I don't vote for Rockefeller Republicans.

Well ... (none / 0) (#10)
by chemoelectric on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 01:51:54 PM EST

... on Iraq, Obama waffling is in the wrong direction. It's one thing to vote for a war and then start saying some things against it, but it's another to speak out strongly against a war and then, once elected, hem and haw and whatnot. Obama has, in so doing, has told the public that he is a panderer and an untrustworthy person (whether or not this is so).

If Obama wants to be VP under an essentially mission-less president like Ms. Clinton, then making himself a blank slate actually makes some sense. He'll have eight years in which to become something, if he chooses. Right now he seems a chameleon and perhaps that is his goal.

No registered or likely voter screen. (none / 0) (#12)
by Geekesque on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 03:30:45 PM EST

Garbage poll.

I'd love to vote for Paul.... (none / 0) (#14)
by kdog on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 02:13:21 PM EST

but you have to be a registered Republican to vote in the primary in my state. And I won't sully my good name by joining the Republican Party...or the Democratic Party for that matter. I'd be ashamed of myself.