"Don't Know" Leads for President in 2008 (38% - Gallup Poll)

[sabra]

http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=25738

"Don't Know" Leads for President in 2008
Clinton, McCain, Obama, and Giuliani mentioned most frequently
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- Many Americans cannot spontaneously think of the name of a person they would like to see elected president in 2008. While this lack of firm conviction about presidential candidates over a year before the first 2008 primaries is not necessarily unusual, it underscores the certainty of change as various politicians announce their candidacies and jockey for position in the months ahead.

Beyond the "don't know" category, eight men and women are mentioned spontaneously as desired candidates by 2% or more of Americans as their choice for president in 2008. Two candidates top the list -- New York Sen. Hillary Clinton with 15% of spontaneous mentions and Arizona Sen. John McCain with 11%. The other six mentioned by between 2% and 6% of the people are Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Sen. John Edwards, Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and former Vice President Al Gore. Five other individuals are named by 1% -- Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist (who has formally said he won't run), and former Sec. of State Colin Powell.

Asked in a separate question if they would like to see a list of candidates run for president, McCain and Giuliani are the only two candidates who get a "yes" answer from more than half of Americans. Clinton tops the list among Democrats, over three-quarters of whom would like to see her run, but the majority of independents and Republicans say they would not like to see her run.

...

[William769]

1. Not surprising.

It's still to early to make a choice.

[Telly Savalas]

18. Additionally, "Don't know" has a much more solid ground game

than the other candidates.

[AllegroRondo]

2. "Dont Know" would still do a better job than *

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

4. Are you sure about that?

I hear Senator Know (D-??) doesn't have very much experience.

[skip fox]

3. What's new? Old "I don't know" has been running the country for almost 6 years!

:)

[Seabiscuit]

5. Really? I thought it was "I don't know jack shit".

He's the puppet (Cheney) behind "I dunno squat" (Shrub).

[Lisa]

11. along with his running mate, "I don't care"! (n/t)

[jamesinca]

20. whos on first?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. I fail to see the use of the extra early polls

Most of the hats aren't even in the ring yet, so we don't have anything more than guesses to go on.

The only thing that I can see that makes me hopeful is how only two percent took the generic choice of "A Republican." It would appear there are a few less lock-step republican voters.

[Seabiscuit]

8. It's a way to prop up Hillary in everyone's mind.

Murdoch must be behind it.

[TheWraith]

10. Paranoid much? NT

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. That's possible

However, the fact that it shows McCain nipping her heels should shake up any Democrat who took the poll seriously.

As it is, she's the only Dem who's really been getting press for her alleged run for president. Which makes these number meaningless to me.

[ryanmuegge]

7. It's WAY too early for this.

Talking about the next Presidential election two years in advance is a way of eliminating original ideas. The media talking heads, by talking endlessly about the next election so far in advance, undermine democracy. This the beginning of the same process that we see every exectuve election: they divide the field into "legitimate" candidates with their fake polls and punditry so a General Electric or Westinghouse-backed candidate wins the primaries. South Carolina shenanigans aside, endless "young rising star" media coverage is how the corporate dream candidate, George W. Bush, became the defacto nominee in 2000.

[gorbal]

9. Perhaps they mean "Bill Richardson"

I would have to do more research on his politics to decide if I would vote for him, but as a candidate he would be quite a contender.

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

13. Don't know is a pretty solid candidate...I would consider voting for that

[mcscajun]

17. Now all someone has to do is change their name to "Don't Know"

and they're a shoe-in.

:rofl:

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

14. Al Gore Loses To "A Democrat"

What's up with that? Are we the only Democrats who want Al Gore?

[ozone_man]

15. There are Democrats

who won't vote for a Democrat who rubber stamped the Iraq war (like Hillary Clinton), who want an environmental candidate like Al Gore. He's the only one I see there who I could vote for. Feingold, Dean and Boxer are all good potential candidates at some point (to my liking).

[Jcrowley]

16. The people just need some convincing

the mighty wurlitzer will tell them who to vote for.

[sandnsea]

19. Incompetence wins again

*sigh* Stunning that America is going for image over substance - AGAIN. Powell and Frist have proven to be more competent than any of the higher ranked Republicans, and Biden and Kerry certainly have a better resume than any of the Democrats, except Gore. And where's Clark on this list?? Really sad.