Clinton's Support Among Liberals is Rising

[Alamom]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/11/05/post_178.html


Clinton's Support Among Liberals is Rising
Dan Balz -11/05/07

Hillary Clinton's opponents have accused her of sounding too hawkish on Iran, of refusing to commit to a firmer timetable for removing troops from Iraq and of generally moving to the center -- all criticisms designed to undermine her support among the Democratic Party's liberal base.

But a new Washington Post-ABC News poll of the 2008 race shows a surprising trend: Clinton's support among liberals is actually rising, not falling, as the nomination debate has intensified.

A review of Post-ABC polls throughout the year, assembled by analyst Jennifer Agiesta of our polling unit, shows that Clinton has expanded her overall lead in the Democratic race in large part because of growing support among self-identified liberals.

The new poll showed 54 percent of liberals said they supported Clinton for the Democratic nomination, the second consecutive poll in which she has won the backing of more than half of all liberals. That represents a significant jump in liberal support from earlier in the year, when she was backed by 40-43 percent of those who identified themselves as liberals.

The opposite has happened to Barack Obama. His support among liberals has actually declined over the course of the campaign. He began the year with the support of 33 percent of liberals, topped out at 36 percent in July and now has drifted down to 25 percent.

[maddiejoan]

1. Might be because --

--if one actually examines their respective records and positions --Obama is to the RIGHT of Hillary.

Kucinich is way left of Clinton --and Edwards only slightly left of Clinton.

[Clintonista2]

2. It's true. If you look at the candidates ENTIRE record

It shows a much clearer picture than if you cherry pick.