Clinton, Giuliani Top Poll As Presidential Nominees

Belleville News via New York Daily News ^ | 8/30/06

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani are America's top choices to run for president, but a new poll says the Democratic senator faces a tougher fight than the GOP ex-mayor in getting nominated.

Giuliani and Clinton each are the first choice of 32 percent of their parties' voters, the survey by RT Strategies and the Cook Political Report found.

But 49 percent of Democrats think Clinton can't win a general election.

"That's a huge number," said pollster Tom Riehle, who explained he asked that question because Clinton's biggest barrier to winning the Democratic nomination is the wide belief in her party that she would lose.

Riehle said Giuliani's top hurdle is the idea he's too liberal for GOP primary voters, so the poll asked whether Republicans should nominate him, given his support for abortion rights, gun control and gay rights.

More than half of registered Republicans -- 56 percent -- said the party should pick Rudy. "It's surprising how low the barrier is for him to get over his issues differences with Republican voters," Riehle said.

He said one of the root reasons for Clinton's challenges and Giuliani's strength is their likability. Asked to rate how much they like the two politicians on a scale of 0 to 100, Giuliani scores 59.4, while Clinton rates 43.9.

The Giuliani camp declined to comment.

"We're focused on '06," said Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson.

[areafiftyone]

If you want to look at the whole Poll Report it is in PDF Format and you can view it here Cook Political Report

[DungeonMaster]

The evil of two lessers.

[wagglebee]

"That's a huge number," said pollster Tom Riehle, who explained he asked that question because Clinton's biggest barrier to winning the Democratic nomination is the wide belief in her party that she would lose.

When has this ever stopped them before?

[areafiftyone]

It won't stop Hillary unless the Senate offers her something better. Hillary has her eye on 2008.

[RippyO]

Certain parts of my body have a better chance of being elected President.

[wagglebee]

Any 'Rat who tries to stand in the way of Hitlery in 2008 is either incredibly naive or suicidal.

[veronica]

Is there is a poll that doesn't have Rudy in the lead??

[areafiftyone]

Only one that I've seen from Arizona and it has McCain leading. That's about it.

[veronica]

Unlike Al Gore, I guess McCain would win his home state. :)

[Coldwater Creek]

The polls will keep Mrs. Clinton from running. Her ego will not let take a chance of losing. I have been following Clinton politics for over 30 years.

[areafiftyone]

That's about all he'll win. He should stick with a life in the Senate like Byrd.

[areafiftyone]

You have a good point. I've yet to see Hillary campaign hard. She had it easy in NY State that is why she chose that state to run.

[areafiftyone]

((((PING))))

[MrEdd]

I think we're going to go back to where we were before Clinton's excesses goaded people to get off the sidelines and vote. Barring some new candidate with Reagan's sort of inspirational speaches - a lot of people (at least on the right) are going to sit the 2008 elections. Even the sidebar poll here at FR bears this out, and we're political activists

[veronica]

I doubt that, but Rudy could easily get the majority of the so-called Independent vote, which would offset stay-at-home GOPers.

[areafiftyone]

Barring some new candidate with Reagan's sort of inspirational speaches - a lot of people (at least on the right) are going to sit the 2008 elections

I can't argue with you on that statement. I've read on these threads posts from Freepers saying they will sit it out. But, that's their choice.

[areafiftyone]

Rudy definitely will get the Independent vote and even some moderate Democrats will vote for him too.

[Toby06]

Geez, way far left of center and left of center.

Where is the conservative in this race?

[Toby06]

I certainly will not sit out a presidential election, but I will not vote for a liberal (Rudy) either.

[DungeonMaster]

I think we're going to go back to where we were before Clinton's excesses goaded people to get off the sidelines and vote. Barring some new candidate with Reagan's sort of inspirational speaches - a lot of people (at least on the right) are going to sit the 2008 elections. Even the sidebar poll here at FR bears this out, and we're political activists

At first I thought it was just me, but now I'm seeing it the same way you are. It's not just me, it's a lot of people. There were so many reasons to be excited about Bush in 2000 and in 2004. By comparison there is absolutelyl nothing to be excited about in 08.