Thread: AOL Poll interesting

Take the poll then check out the results. Quite different than what the article says. 175,500+ votes so far.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/who-are-vo ... 0000000001


Source: Gallup.com | *Note: Poll is based on registered voters. Only the leading contenders in the Democratic and Republican parties were included. "No opinion" results were not noted above.

More Coverage: See Full Poll Results on Gallup.com


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Clinton, who tops national polls of Democrats, is strongest within her party. Only 10% of Democrats said they'd rule her out; nearly three times as many said they wouldn't vote for Edwards.

The new poll found that Clinton would defeat the leading Republican, Rudy Giuliani, in a hypothetical matchup. Still, some Democrats wonder whether she's potentially unelectable or a drag on candidates lower on the ballot, and rivals such as Edwards say they're better bets.

In a general election, the poll suggests that Clinton has the least potential for winning votes from Republicans - 84% say they definitely would not vote for her, compared with six in 10 for either Obama or Edwards. Independents show the least resistance to Obama and the most to Edwards.

The poll found that 36% of women wouldn't vote for Clinton, compared with 50% of men - and 55% of married men. Obama had comparable appeal to women and more to men. Clinton's appeal overall falls as income rises, the reverse of the findings for Obama.

Pollster Mark Penn, a top Clinton strategist, says Clinton's strength against GOP hopefuls is growing. "With candidates who are lesser known, typically we see the opposite pattern happen," he says, citing 2004 nominee John Kerry as an example. Penn also says her appeal to Republican women is rising, and nearly a quarter of them could defect to her in a general election.

Clinton's unfavorable rating in the poll was 45%, vs. 30% for Obama and 31% for Edwards. "A fairly substantial number of ordinary voters have doubts about her," says Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles.


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More StoriesEven so, he and others say that doesn't mean Clinton is unelectable. Political scientist John White of Catholic University in Washington, D.C., says she benefits from "the demise of the Republican brand" and trends such as more minority and single voters.

Overall, 43% in the poll would not vote for Clinton. Top reasons: They don't like her, her husband or her views. Retired professor Charles Bilbrey of Harrisonburg, Va., 65, a GOP-leaning moderate, calls Clinton "abrasive."

Others cite Clinton's marriage. "My biggest reason is she put up with her husband" after his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky, says Republican Betty Muse, 77, a retired nutrition director in New London, N.C.

Political scientist Gerald Benjamin at the State University of New York at New Paltz says old scandals "certainly will surface" if Democrats nominate her. Mark Mellman, Kerry's pollster in 2004, says they won't matter much. "People know who she is. There's not a lot you can tell them that's going to change their fundamental perception."

This is one poll am happy to see Hillary at the top of.

Which of these candidates do you support least?
Hillary Clinton 56% 106,954
Rudy Giuliani 16% 30,567
Barack Obama 9% 16,724
Fred Thompson 7% 13,698
Mitt Romney 6% 11,199
John McCain 3% 5,352
John Edwards 3% 4,871
None of the above 2% 3,122

Note on Poll Results
Total Votes: 192,487

Poll Results
Which of these candidates do you support most?
Rudy Giuliani
26% 50,361
Hillary Clinton
23% 45,785
Fred Thompson
12% 24,038
None of the above
9% 17,549
Barack Obama
9% 17,311
Mitt Romney
9% 17,165
John Edwards
6% 11,951
John McCain




Which of these candidates do you support least?
Hillary Clinton
56% 108,335
Rudy Giuliani
16% 31,022
Barack Obama
9% 16,947
Fred Thompson
7% 13,889
Mitt Romney
6% 11,336
John McCain
3% 5,425
John Edwards
3% 4,933
None of the above
2% 3,157
Note on Poll Results
Total Votes: 195,044

Which of these candidates do you support least?
Hillary Clinton 56%
Rudy Giuliani 16%
Barack Obama 9%
Fred Thompson 7%
Mitt Romney 6%
John McCain 3%
John Edwards 3%
None of the above 2%
Total Votes: 208,273


Which of these candidates do you support most?
Rudy Giuliani 26%
Hillary Clinton 23%
Fred Thompson 12%
None of the above 9%
Barack Obama 9%
Mitt Romney 9%
John Edwards 6%
John McCain 6%

SUPPORT MOST

Rudy Giuliani
26% 50,361

Hillary Clinton
23% 45,785


SUPPORT LEAST

Hillary Clinton
56% 108,335

Rudy Giuliani
16% 31,022

There appear to be a lot of people skewing this poll. How can Clinton and Guiliani be BOTH SUPPORTED LEAST AND MOST?