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Presidential Candidate Ideology
Most Voters See Clinton, Obama as Politically Liberal
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Fifty-four percent (54%) of Likely Voters nationwide believe Barack Obama is politically liberal. Fifty-two percent (52%) say the same about Hillary Clinton. Twenty-eight percent (28%) see Obama as moderate while 31% say the same about Clinton. Democratic voters see little ideological difference between their Presidential hopefuls. A plurality of Democrats see both Clinton and Obama as politically moderate.

Forty-one percent (41%) believe that John McCain is politically moderate while an equal number believe the presumptive Republican nominee is politically conservative. Most Republicans (57%) view McCain as politically moderate. Just 32% of GOP voters view their party’s standard-bearer as politically conservative.

Perceptions of Clinton have changed little since the campaign season began. In December, she was viewed as politically liberal by 54% and moderate by 31%.

However, Obama is now seen as more liberal than he was in December. McCain is seen as more conservative.

In December, 47% viewed Obama as politically liberal and 35% said he was a moderate.

The 41% who now see McCain as politically moderate is down four points from 45% in December. Thirty-one percent (31%) considered McCain politically conservative in December. That figure has grown a full ten-percentage points over the past four months.

Among unaffiliated voters, most believe that Clinton (54%) and Obama (56%) are politically liberal while a plurality (46%) see McCain as politically moderate.

Finally, 44% of all voters say that Ralph Nader is politically liberal and 25% are not sure of his ideology. A plurality (31%) are not sure of Ron Paul’s ideology.

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Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.

Survey of 800 Likely Voters
March 31 - April 1, 2008

How Voters View Presidential Candidates

 

Cons.

Mod.

Lib.

Hillary Clinton

8%

31%

52%

John McCain

41%

41%

9%

Barack Obama

8%

28%

54%

Ralph Nader

13%

18%

44%

Ron Paul

29%

25%

15%

Hillary Clinton Ideology

Date

Cons.

Mod.

Lib.

04/01/2008

8%

31%

52%

02/17/2008

9%

30%

53%

01/17/2008

8%

33%

51%

12/11/2007

7%

31%

54%

11/06/2007

9%

31%

51%

10/07/2007

8%

34%

51%

09/06/2007

14%

28%

50%

John McCain Ideology

Date

Cons.

Mod.

Lib.

04/01/2008

41%

41%

9%

02/17/2008

28%

51%

11%

12/13/2007

31%

45%

8%

11/08/2007

30%

49%

8%

10/09/2007

32%

43%

8%

09/09/2007

36%

42%

7%

Barack Obama Ideology

Date

Cons.

Mod.

Lib.

04/01/2008

8%

28%

54%

02/17/2008

9%

26%

55%

01/17/2008

7%

33%

51%

12/11/2007

5%

35%

47%

11/06/2007

6%

33%

44%

10/07/2007

7%

34%

49%

09/06/2007

10%

31%

45%

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