2008 Democratic Presidential Primary

Clinton 35% Obama 30% Edwards 11%

Monday, March 19, 2007

The race for the Democratic Presidential nomination is getting a bit tighter. Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D) has closed to within five points of the frontrunner—Senator Hillary Clinton. A week ago, Clinton held a 12-point lead.

The former First Lady now attracts 35% of the vote down slightly from 38% last week. Obama gained four points and now is the top choice for 30% of Likely Voters. That’s the highest level of support for Obama in any Rasmussen Reports survey since the Election 2008 season began.

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards (D) lost four points but remains in third place with 11% support. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) is up to the 5% level of support, his highest total so far. Delaware Senator Joe Biden (D) earns support from 3% of those likely to vote in a Democratic Primary.

Rasmussen Reports releases national polling data on the Democratic nomination process every Monday and on the Republican race each Tuesday. The current survey of 790 Likely Democratic Primary Voters was conducted March 12-15, 2007. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

A separate survey found that 30% of all voters say they would definitely vote for Clinton if she is on the 2008 Presidential ballot. However, 46% would definitely vote against her. That 46% definitely vote against figure is higher than every other candidate except former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) say they’d definitely vote for Obama while 37% would definitely vote against. Figures are also available for Edwards, Richardson, Biden, and leading Republican candidates.

Over the past week, Rasmussen Reports released General Election polls showing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) leading Clinton and Edwards. Other surveys showed Obama and Clinton leading former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R). See our summary of favorability ratings and all general election match-up results for all Democratic and Republican candidates.

The first Rasmussen Reports Senate survey for Election 2008 showed Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman (R) leading potential challenger Al Franken (D) by ten points.

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

The Rasmussen Reports Election Edge™ Premium Service offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage available anywhere.

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

This national telephone survey of 790 Likely Democratic Primary Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports March 12-15, 2007. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Election Polls 2008: Democratic Presidential Primary Contenders
Date	Clinton	Obama	Edwards
3/19	35%	30%	11%
3/12	38%	26%	15%
3/05	34%	26%	15%
2/26	37%	26%	13%
2/19	28%	24%	11%
2/12	28%	23%	13%
2/05	34%	18%	10%
1/29	33%	19%	10%
1/22	31%	24%	12%
1/17	22%	21%	15%

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