Giuliani and Clinton lead in primary polls (Hillary has 20 pt lead in two new polls)

[Herman Munster]

And if one more DU'er says that these polls are meaningless and they are all about name recognition because Lieberman was leading in 2004 primary polls, THAT IS A BAD COMPARISON.

Hillary is beating Obama, Edwards, Kerry, and Gore. Not beating them. Kicking their collective asses in every single poll I have seen, in fact by double digit margins.

They all have name recognition similar to Hillary's.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/12/support_for_white_house_bid_el.html

The surveys, released separately Thursday by Fox News and the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, both showed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York with a more than 2-to-1 lead over the rest of the Democratic field. Clinton was supported by 33 percent of respondents in both surveys. Her closest competition comes from three people who, like her, have not officially declared their intentions: 2000 presidential nominee Al Gore, freshman Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Obama was backed by 12 percent of respondents in both surveys. Gore was just ahead of him in the Marist poll, but trailed Obama by 1 percentage point in the Fox News poll, conducted by Opinion Dynamics. Edwards, the Democrats’ 2004 vice presidential nominee, trailed Gore and Obama in the Fox News poll, where he registered 8 percent. However, he was tied with Gore in the Marist poll.

The remaining Democrats were mired in single digits in both polls. That group included 2004 presidential nominee, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, and the two declared candidates in the race, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. Larry Shiman, a vice president at Opinion Dynamics, told CQPolitics.com he was surprised by the strength of Clinton’s lead. “It’s no lock, but she’s certainly in a very stronger position and a little bit stronger than what I expected,” he said of her results.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Au contraire.

Two years before the 1992 election hardly anybody had even heard of Bill Clinton -- a whole lot can happen in two years. It's quite possible that some dark horse, relatively speaking, will turn up and take the nomination.

And I just wish I knew who all these people are that vote for Hillary in some of these polls, 'cuz I don't know a single Dem or liberal or progressive (and I'm not talking about people on DU) who likes her.

[Nevernose]

3. I know a LOT of people who like her

But not a soul who thinks she'd be either a) a good president or b) a good candidate for president.

I happen to think she's been wrong on Iraq, but otherwise a pretty decent (if too moderate for my tastes) senator. But, then again, I'm a huge fan of her husband's, and she still gets mileage with me for trying to discuss health care back in '93.

[mnhtnbb]

5. Yeah, great, her health care idea was to give it to HMO's. What a disaster.

National health insurance is what we need--get the gd insurance companies OUT of it.

[Nevernose]

12. Unfair -- it was more complicated than that.

First, I should say that I agre with you -- real UHC should just be considered a right in the richest nation in human history.

But Hillary's health care proposals were far more complicated than "give it all to the HMO's." There was too much involvement of private insurance companies (essentially the pimps of suffering), granted, but even that might have been a good first (compromise) step in a longer journey.

[mnhtnbb]

4. I wonder, too, about the poll sample. I don't know any Dems who want Hillary.

[oasis]

10. Perhaps you should get out more. I know many Dems who adore Hill.

:loveya:

[mnhtnbb]

18. True, Poor me. I'm a native of NYC, lived in NJ, CA, MO, NE, and NC

where I now live in the Berkeley of the South. Granted, it's not Manhattan, but I have yet to run into anyone who prefers Hillary over other candidates--Gore and Edwards top the list.

I have NEVER liked Hillary--not even when she was First Lady.
She's a sell-out to the capitalists. Who the hell could want to kiss up to Rupert Murdoch? And support the Iraq War?

P.S. I'm a retired hospital administrator and my husband is a practicing
psychiatrist/psychoanalyst, so don't think I couldn't figure out what her health care proposals were going to do.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. I Like Her Just Fine. She's A Good Dem. So Now You Can Never Repeat That Declaration Again.

[antiimperialist]

2. Obama name recognition

He will pick up points as the nation gets to know him better, or get to know him at all.
I don't know to what extent, or whether it will be enough for him to catch up to Hil (i personally think Hil will win the nomination) but I think that his numbers have not peaked.

[Lex]

6. Early polls showed Lieberman ahead in the 2004 race.

And we know how that turned out.

[w4rma]

7. Hillary has peaked. (nt)

[bluestateguy]

8. Is it possible that we could maybe enjoy the holidays and not be in a constant campaign mode?

Remember the good old days when campaigns didn't even start until Labor Day of the election year? We need to go back to that.

[David Dunham]

11. Hillary could beat McCain who'll be a doddering old man in 2008

[still_one]

13. I wouldn't vote for either one

there are enough GOOD people, liberal and moderate Democrats who were against the IWR, and against us going into Iraq

THERE IS NO excuse for signing on with this administration to kill 3000 Americans, wound over 20000 Americans, and kill over 100000 Iraqiis, and I will NOT reward anyone who did

That is just my view, and I know it won't buy a cup of coffee

[CrazyForKucinich]

14. Clinton whining about videogames as Iraq goes to hell

She's stupid.

[Tiggeroshii]

15. obama no longer second place?

I think that guy needs to start a pr campaign. or soemthin

[Jennicut]

16. I think these polls are always Bogus

I mean, shouldn't the media's darling Obama be ahead of Hillary, not behind or just slightly ahead of Gore? The only thing these two poll tell me is that when the Democratic race boils down to two people it will probably be Hillary and Obama or Hillary and Gore if he runs as I think Obama's lack of experience may make some voters wary. Edwards could play a factor as well but I think people might be more impressed with Obama. If you add Gore and Obama's numbers in the Faux poll together, they are not too far behind Hillary. So, whoever polls well next to Hillary will probably be her challenger. I think Obama or Gore could make up the #'s on Hillary after there is a real primary race going on. Hillary has the name, the power, the money but Obama or Gore may be more inspiring. We shall see. Its way to early to know. DOn't even know if Obama and especially Gore are going to run. I still think we have a good group of candidates. Add in Wes Clark and its a great group! I think this speculation can be fun but is not meant to be taken overly seriously. Dems need to concentrate on Irag and taking over congress.:)

[Blue_In_AK]

17. Who ARE these people

that keep getting polled? Nobody's asked ME.

Oh, well...