Rasmussen: Hillary Clinton Numbers Have Slipped a Bit; Thompson, Giuliani tied at 24%

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/daily_presidential_tracking_poll__1

Friday, September 21, 2007

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s numbers have slipped a bit but she still retains a double digit lead in the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Clinton now attracts 36% of the vote from Likely Democratic PrimaryVoters. That’s her lowest level of support since mid-July and comes on the heels of announcing her new health care proposal. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 77% of liberal voters nationwide say that major changes are needed in health care but only 39% say Clinton’s proposal reflects major change.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who proposed an $85 billion middle-class tax cut, moved to within eleven points of the frontrunner with 25% support. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards attracts 13% while New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is a distant fourth at 5%. (see recent daily numbers).

In the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are now tied. Each man is the top choice for 24% of Likely Republican Primary Voters. Arizona Senator John McCain is in third place at 15% and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney attracts support from 13%. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee remains atop the second tier at 5% (see recent daily numbers).

A look at the favorable and unfavorable ratings for leading Presidential contenders provides a good look at a polarized electorate. The top three candidates in each party all have favorable ratings between 45% and 53%. They all have unfavorable ratings between 40% and 48%. This week, the three leading Democrats all are viewed more positively than the three leading Republicans. Rudy Giuliani falls below the 50% mark for the first time.