Polls Show Hillary Trouncing Obama

With three months remaining until the first Democratic primary election, national polls show Democratic Senator, Hillary Clinton, increasing her lead over Illinois Senator, Barack Obama. According to an ABC News/Washington Post survey, the New York senator garners 5 percent of support among Democratic voters to Obama's 20 percent. Although Obama recently gained notice for breaking campaign fundraising records, his polling numbers have not climbed.

"It's really too early for the polls to be indicative of a final winner, but Hillary has had a better response nationally because her campaign has more of a national appeal than Obama['s] and Edwards'" Sophomore Mathew Temba, president of Americans for Informed Dmocracy.

AID recently held a debate-watching party, after which a straw poll showed the audience members narrowly supporting Obama over Clinton. Temba, "There is a large bastion of support for Hillary Clinton within the African American community and that clearly showed from [our] straw poll" Temba explained.

In addition to the ABC News/Washington Post poll, other national surveys show Clinton with a significant lead. Rasmussen Reports, a polling agency that has correctly predicted multiple election results, including the 2004 Bush/Kerry race, has Clinton leading Obama 46 percent to 25 percent.

However, polls of the individual primary states indicate a much closer race. The Iowa Caucuses, which are scheduled to occur in January, will be the first test of each candidate's strength. There, Clinton, Obama, and John Edwards are locked in a tight race for the top position, Democratic nominee.

The Des Moines Register poll released October 7th showed Senator Clinton with 29 percent of the vote, followed by Edwards at 23% and Obama at 22 percent. Polls in New Hampshire and South Carolina also indicate a closer race, but Clinton has maintained a closer lead in those states. Polls by Zogby, CNN, the American Research Group and the LA Times show Clinton leading Obama by anywhere from fifteen to twenty-three points in New Hampshire, while those same agencies have Clinton up by at least ten points in South Carolina.

Explaing that the Illinois senator could have more support than the polls indicate. "Polls have shown that Barack Obama has a greater appeal to those who haven't voted before and don't tend to appear in polls."