Following Election 2006, the nation can look forward to our first female Speaker of the House. Another woman, Senator Hillary Clinton, is the initial frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. However, fellow freshman Senator Barack Obama is close on her heels.

The first release of the Rasmussen Reports 2008 Presidential Tracking Poll finds Clinton the choice of 29%, while Obama has 22%. Former Vice President Al Gore is number three with 13%, and the 2004 Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards is also in double digits at 10%. The Democrats’ 2004 standard bearer, John Kerry, is the choice of just 4%.

Among liberal voters, it’s a toss-up—25% for Obama, and 23% for Clinton.

Among the full sample, Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are each the second choice for 18% of voters. Al Gore is the second choice for 16% of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents.

This survey of 1,170 Democrats and 232 unaffiliated voters who would vote in a Democratic Primary was conducted from November 4-7, 2006. In many states, unaffiliated voters are allowed to vote in party primaries.

When the responses of just Democrats are considered, Clinton is the choice of 32%, and Obama remains in second at 21%.

Rasmussen Reports will update the Democratic Presidential Primary competition every day based upon a three-day rolling average.

We will also be tracking the Republican march to 2008 on a daily basis and providing new general election updates on a daily basis.