Hillary Leads, Thompson Gains in Florida

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most popular United States presidential contender for Democratic Party supporters in the Sunshine State, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 47 per cent of likely Democratic primary voters in Florida would vote for the New York senator in next year’s primary.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 22 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 11 per cent. Four per cent of respondents would vote for other candidates, and 15 per cent are undecided.

In the sample of Republican Party supporters, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is first with 29 per cent, followed by actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson with 23 per cent—up six points since August. Arizona senator John McCain is third with 12 per cent, followed by Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 11 per cent, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee with three per cent.

Earlier this year, a law passed in Florida mandates for the state’s presidential primaries to be held either on the first Tuesday of February, or seven days after the New Hampshire contest. The Republican and Democratic primaries in Florida are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 29, 2008.

In 2004, Massachusetts senator John Kerry won the Democratic Florida primary with 77 per cent of the vote. The Republican contest was cancelled, after incumbent George W. Bush was nominated by the state’s party.

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next U.S. presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Original Releases from Rasmussen Reports: Republican Primary and Democratic Primary

Polling Data

Election 2008: Florida Democratic Presidential Primary

Election 2008: Florida Republican Primary