New Gallup Poll: Hillary Increases Lead to 22 Points - - - 48%!!! Tops in Foreign Policy

[wyldwolf]

Sen. Hillary Clinton strengthened her frontrunner status in the Democratic field over the past month, pulling 10 points further ahead of Sen. Barack Obama than she was in mid-July. According to the August 3-5 USA Today/Gallup Poll, none of the other announced contenders for the 2008 Democratic nomination are within striking distance of Clinton, and only former Sen. John Edwards appears strong enough to potentially compete with Obama for second place.

Clinton is now the preferred nominee of 48% of Democrats nationwide, compared with Obama's 26%. Last month, she led by a smaller 12-point margin, 40% vs. 28%. Most of the change is due to increased support for Clinton rather than a decline in support for Obama.

Clinton's improved standing in the latest poll is also reflected in a separate question asking Democrats who they would vote for should the Democratic field narrow down to just Clinton and Obama. Clinton now leads Obama by a 23-point margin on this measure, 59% to 36%. Last month she held a much smaller 12-point lead; however the current spread is similar to where she stood earlier this year.

Not only is Clinton generally preferred for the nomination over Obama, but in a new question asking Democrats which of the two candidates would do the better job handling four specific foreign policy responsibilities, Clinton wins hands-down on each.

The survey was conducted after Obama's widely publicized August 1 foreign policy speech in which he took a hard line against al Qaeda, saying that as president he would not wait for approval from Pakistan's government to authorize any military action he felt was warranted against terrorist sites in Pakistan. He also said he would meet with the leaders of hostile countries such as Cuba and North Korea, something his opponents have seized on to reinforce the perception that Obama lacks the experience necessary to be president.

Thus, it is notable that the poll finds Clinton leading Obama by her widest margins in perceived handling of international terrorism, and "relations with nations that are unfriendly to the United States." This could potentially explain Clinton's recent rise in the polls.



http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=28345

[JDPriestly]

1. But how does Hillary fare among all voters, not just Democrats.

There's the rub.

[wyldwolf]

2. one election at a time. The nomination comes first, there's the rub

...but other recent polls find her doing quite well among all voters.

[jefferson_dem]

4. But does less well among "likely voters" than she does among "voters"...

Hillary's lead shrinks a little - to 16 - among those "likely" voters.

[avrdream]

24. Ouch, a 16 point lead.

She's doing fine because she is coming across as presidential. I've watched her for many years now and really do think she is the right candidate to be president now.

[rockymountaindem]

7. I think that's not a good idea

We shouldn't nominate someone if we know they're going to be weak in the national election (I'm not saying Clinton will be). Electability is an issue we should consider, as we can't handle another four years of Republicans in the WH.

[wyldwolf]

14. The nomination coming first is an excellent idea

:shrug:

We have NO IDEA how strong the candidate will be 14 months from now.

[rockymountaindem]

21. I disagree

We can tell which candidates will have appeal more than others. Look at their records, their campaign abilities, personal appeal, etc. It's not exactly impossible to predict how our candidates will stack up against the range of Republican candidates.

[wyldwolf]

23. you disagree we should nominate someone first?

And, by your criteria, comparing candidates, the lefter the candidate, the worse choice he'd be.

[polpilot]

6. This is getting...

ridiculous.

[Alamom]

3. Thank you for posting. WOW, beautiful dark green. nm

[jefferson_dem]

5. like a projectile hurl...

:puke:

[wyldwolf]

9. makes you sick, huh?

[jefferson_dem]

12. um...

ya.

[William769]

17. I can understand why those poll number would make you sick.

Obama must be puking his guts out.

[jefferson_dem]

19. Nobody said it would be easy...standing up to Hill and the establishment Machine.

Lobbyist-fueled, PAC-driven and all...

[SaveElmer]

20. You think Obama doesn't have enough money?

Last time I looked he was leading in that category!!!

[LSparkle]

10. You beat me to that smilie!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Colobo]

8. Rasmussen is showing that Obama is climbing up again

And Hill's numbers have been going down slowly...

[Capn Sunshine]

11. OT to these guys

The subject is only Hillary ahead in the polls THEY like.

[wyldwolf]

15. no, not OT, just wrong.

[wyldwolf]

13. nope! Sorry to disappoint

From YESTERDAY'S Rasmussen:

"New York Senator Hillary Clinton has fallen below the 40% mark for the first time in more than two weeks. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows Clinton at 38% and Illinois Senator Barack Obama at 27%. Clinton’s lead over Obama has declined for four straight days..."

From TODAY'S Rasmussen:

"In the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, New York Senator Hillary Clinton has a twelve-point advantage over Illinois Senator Barack Obama. It’s Clinton 40% and Obama 28%.."

The four-day trend has reversed.

[William769]

18. They have to throw them a bone at least once a week.

Reporting on a daily basis is about as desperate as you can get.

[SaveElmer]

16. Don't know what to say...

Other than these number bear out what many other polls have been saying...including the recent Quinnipiac polls in FL, OH, and PA which show her strongest against the Republican candidates...she is perceived, correctly in my view, as the candidate most prepared to hit the ground running on day one...people know where she wants to lead, but also know she will do so based on the facts, not the distortions and polarization that comes from a Presidential campaign...

It also shows her competitors are going to have to come up with something other than gimmicks to catch up...

[beastieboy]

25. I think you are right on.

Her biggest selling point will be that she seems so prepared and competent.

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. Is Gallup the same one which continually gave the election to Bush by a wide margin?