According to the latest Fox News Opinion Dynamics Poll at this point in the contest it looks like Hillary vs. Rudy in 2008:
13. If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were:
- Hillary Clinton 43%
- Barack Obama 15
- John Edwards 12
- Al Gore 11
14. If the 2008 Republican presidential primary were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were:
- Rudy Giuliani 34%
- John McCain 22
- Newt Gingrich 15
- Mitt Romney 3
I really don't think McCain has much of a chance of getting the Republican nomination. Too many conservatives just don't trust him and don't appreciate his shenanigans with the "gang of 14." Gingrich is probably the best of the candidates in terms of ideas and intellect, but he has too much personal baggage. Of course, so does Rudy. Moreover, Rudy is liberal on social issues like abortion, so it's a surprise that he ranks so high among Republicans. Perhaps it's because he's more likeable than McCain and has more charisma than Newt.
Hillary has the Democratic field to herself right now, but that would change if Gore mounted a serious effort. I think the left would dump Hillary in a nanosecond if Gore were to jump in, and I think he'd be harder for the Republicans to beat in November than Hillary would. The base of the Democratic party finds him more genuinely left than Hillary who they view as an unreliable opportunist.
We'll see.
RLC
