New CNN Poll: Hillary Leads, But is Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full?

The CNN Poll, how to read it:

Is the glass is half-empty or half-full?

The new CNN poll will be spun both ways. Hillary Clinton remains the leader and is the one to beat is the way CNN and others will spin it. She's on top.

But her numbers are slipping and no one else in the field has her name recognition is another spin from those who have hopes of topping Clinton. She's on her way down.

More from CNNCNN:

Clinton's path to the White House is in no way certain. Clinton was criticized for her performance during a debate last week, and her rivals for the Democratic nomination have stepped up attacks that she has equivocated on her position on Iraq, Iran and other major issues.

The Republican presidential candidates have also stepped up their attacks on the Democratic front-runner, with each suggesting that he has the best chance of stopping Clinton.

The attacks may be working. The CNN/Opinion Research polls suggests that Clinton's support has slipped from its height one month ago.

The breakdown for the contenders. REPUBLICANS:

In the Republican presidential race, Giuliani continues to be the leading candidate, with the backing of 28 percent of the Republican primary voters polled. Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee was backed by 19 percent. Sen. John McCain of Arizona was the top pick of 16 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 11 percent.

Of the remaining Republican candidates, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received 10 percent, Texas Rep. Ron Paul 5 percent, California Rep. Duncan Hunter 4 percent and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo 3 percent.

And the numbers for the Democrat hopeful. DEMOCRATS:

Clinton is the top choice of 44 percent of the likely Democratic voters interviewed for the poll. Her closest rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, was the top choice of 25 percent, and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina has 14 percent.

All other Democratic candidates were in single digits. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was backed by 4 percent, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware by 3 percent, Sen. Christopher Dodd by 2 percent, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich by 2 percent and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel was at 1 percent.

One year to go until the 2008 elections. One long year.

And the day after the elections, you can bet that someone will start the discussion about 2012.

by Mondoreb



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CNN Poll Shows More Americans Concerned: Global Warming Only One Concern

[photo:wtc-ep]
by Mondoreb

A new CNN poll just released shows fifty-six percent of Americans blame emissions from cars and industrial plant as the primary cause of global warming.

Other polling news: 56 percent of Americans blame NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN newscast, Time, Newsweek, a major city newsdaily or USA Today as their primary news source.

In a recent Death by 1000 Papercuts' poll, fifty-six percent of respondents blamed the New York Times as a primary cause of gassy emissions in the New York Metro area. Meanwhile, 56% of Americans blamed a lack of matches and the high cost of gasoline as the primary cause for not burning more copies of Newsweek and USA Today for warmth during the winter.

From CNN:

Most Americans blame emissions from cars and industrial plants as the primary cause of global warming and believe the United States should reduce levels even if other countries don't, a survey shows.

Fifty-six percent of poll respondents said the phenomenon of global warming has been proven, and can be largely blamed on human endeavors, such as power plants and factories, according to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll.

One wonders if the fifty-six percent of Americans cited in this poll are the same majority of Americans who blame the American education system for failing to educated their childre? Or if this is the same 56% that blame Terminal Sneer for the rigid conformity that substitutes for rigorous thinking in the media elite?

In comparison, 21 percent of those surveyed claimed global warming problems are caused either by natural changes or are unproven.

This last bit may point to the numbers of critical thinkers turned out by much-maligned U.S. public schools.

In unrelated news, 56% of a certain blogger's fingers are going to grab a coffee now.



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Clinton Rising, Thompson, Fading CNN Poll Just Another Poll A Year Out

[photo:CNN]
by Mondoreb
CNN released their latest poll and if candidates were stocks, they'd be telling you: buy Hillary, sell Fred. Complete with the above photo of Thompson with a concerned on his face, we're treated to another poll over a year away from the elections. What can we learn from these early early polls?

Probably not as much as teen-age girls learned about pop idols from reading Tiger Beat magazine.

From CNN:

The new CNN poll by the Opinion Research Corporation released Tuesday shows Thompson's support dropping -- now at 19 percent, down from 27 percent in September.

He's now running second, slightly ahead of Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who has 17 percent. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, still leads with 27 percent.
Of the remaining Republican presidential candidates, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney received support from 13 percent of the Republicans polled, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received 5 percent, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California received 3 percent, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas received 2 percent, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas received 1 percent and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado received 1 percent.

So McCain isn't finished? Ron Paul isn't sweeping the heartland? Other early early polls told us otherwise.

Next up: blue state favorites.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York continues to gain support and build on her lead. She led Sen. Barack Obama by 23 points last month -- 46 percent to 23 percent. She now leads the Illinois senator by 30 points -- 51 percent to 21 percent.

Of the remaining Democratic presidential candidates, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received support from 15 percent of the Democrats polled, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson received 4 percent, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware received 1 percent, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut received 1 percent, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel received 1 percent and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio received 1 percent.

One thing that is interesting: rumors of John Edwards' affair seemed to have given him a little bump. The poll stated that results may vary if Al Gore Jr. was included, but Gore announced earlier this morning that he would not make a bid for the nomination.

Another early early poll and for the next few days the predictions, guesses and analysis will fly thick. Most of it will be wishful thinking or just plain wrong. Some will be accurate. Until next week's latest early early poll.

Then the picture may be of Hillary's brow furrowed in concern or Fred smiling and waving triumphantly.



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