CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll-Clark way in the lead

[Nicholas_J]

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll. Sept. 19-21, 2003. N=457 Democrats and Democratic leaners nationwide who are registered to vote. MoE ± 5.
.

"Next, I'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Democratic primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president in the year 2004. . . ." Names rotated

9/19-21 9/8-10 8/25-26
% % %
Wesley Clark 22 10 2
Howard Dean 13 14 12
John Kerry 11 12 10
Dick Gephardt 11 16 13
Joe Lieberman 10 13 23
Bob Graham 4 5 4
John Edwards 4 5 5
Al Sharpton 4 2 4
Carol Moseley Braun 3 4 5
Dennis Kucinich 2 2 1
Other 1 2
No one 4 7
No opinion 12 12
Other/None/No opinion 16

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh04dem.htm

[Gman]

1. Wow! What was that about it's too late to get in and Dean has

too good of a grassroots network...?

Hillary could get in now and be ahead of everyone... but I can only dream...

[SCantiGOP]

2. the good news here

it looks like Clark is taking much of his support away from Leiberman. Dean/Clark, Clark/Dean, Clark/anybody --- we need a ticket that will send bush back to Texas.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

3. A little translation...

"Next, dear registered voter who probably doesn't even vote, I'm going to read a list of people you may or may not have heard of - or may have heard hearsay about."

I like Clark, but it's way too early for this to mean anything. The problem with these kinds of polls is that it is largely a name recognition game, and largely focuses on discontentment with the politician in office. "Unnamed democrats" routinely led Reagan and Bush I in office at this time, but the public eventually went back to the devil they knew - largely because of the well financed attacks of the spendthrift right.

The real test for a Democratic candidate in terms of electability is how well they deal with the GOP smear machine. You're not going to see that on any poll. It is my biggest concern with Clark.

- C.D.

[renie408]

6. God, I have a headache

and I am starting to think that the people who answer polls deserve to get what they say they want. What does any of it really matter? It doesn't REALLY matter if a candidate is the best one, it only matters what a bunch of people who wouldn't know who one of the candidates was if they dropped dead in their front yard think. *argh* I am getting sick of polls. But then, I was all excited to hear that Edwards was moving up in Iowa polls. God, it is like a heroin addiction. You hate the smack, but you can't get off of it.

[indigo32]

9. LOL I know what you mean Renie

esp when I hear 70% still think Saddam flew the planes into the WTC. It's true about the candidates too.
It is addicting though... kinda like sports in a way, except it's frustrating cuz it's so much more important than that.

edited spelling error

[renie408]

4. And what does this MEAN?

I am starting to get poll inundate-itis.

[PAMod]

5. At this point, these are "do you like what you've seen" polls.

And regarding General Clark, who is a strong candidate who got a TON of press over his announcement, more than any other announced candidate - people like what they've seen.

[kang]

7. The poll that will mean much more will be the one

that comes out after this Thursday's debate. It might be week or so later, but it'll show whether Clark's support is from the news buzz and his "freshness" OR is a legitimate number of Dems who are behind his candidacy. I was surprised by these numbers too, so I'd like to know how much of that support is "soft" support. Who knows, though, maybe he'll do well enough on Thursday that the number will go up for him.

And I'm only kidding here, but some of you Edwards people (not mentioning names) aren't sounding like people who back a candidate who's of/for "regular" Americans, who do, from time to time answer polling questions!

[renie408]

8. Gee whiz, who could he be talking about???

Whatever.

If Clark wins, I will vote for him. Maybe he can tweak his delivery until I will even like him.

Ok, no, I don't think I can like him, but I will vote for him. Hopefully, somewhere in his thirst for achievement, IF he gets the nomination and then wins the election, he will want to undo some of what has been done and he will be a decent President. But I can't like him any more, not after all the stuff I have read.

[JaneQPublic]

10. Margin of Error: +/- 5 points

In other words, Clark might be 5 points less -- or 17% -- and Dean could be 5 points more -- or 18%.

[renie408]

11. OMG!

If I look at it that way, Edwards COULD be moving up in another poll!!!

Or I could start trying to train myself to ignore polls because they are the work of the devil, the DEVIL I tell you!!!

[davidinalameda]

12. 5 point margin of error?

this poll isn't reliable then

the margin shouldn't be over 3 or 4 points max

[goobergunch]

13. *cough*nationalpollsaremeaningless*cough* (n/t)

[renie408]

15. ROFL....I mean..*ahem*thanksalot*ahem*

[Doctor Pedantic]

14. The Problem Is

That at least until recently, 2/3 of Americans couldn't name a single Democratic candidate. I think that a lot of people said Clark as a basically "none of the above" answer as to the rest of the field. Clark's name was most recently in the news, plus people probably recogized it from CNN, so they picked him.

But given these early numbers, I think it's clear that the DLC and the DNC will do everything in their power to make sure Clark's the candidate. Clark will never come close to Dean in terms of fund-raising...it is too late for that. But that doesn't mean the "Establishment" won't try to make up the difference. They're too afraid of Dean.

I'm hoping for a Dean/Edwards ticket, with Clark as Secretary of State or Defense.

I hope Clark's entry into the race doesn't make things get even bloodier in the primaries. Is Lieberman going to start attacking Clark now?

This will be an interesting few months....