Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
Public to '08 Contenders - It's Too Early
Favorable Ratings Are Mixed for Pelosi, Reid
Politicians and political reporters are scrambling to book flights for New Hampshire and other presidential primary states, but the public is far from engaged in the jockeying for 2008. About a quarter of Americans (23%) say they have given a lot of thought to candidates who may be running for president, while another 36% say they have given some thought to the candidates.
Even most Americans who have given some thought to the 2008 candidates could not actually name one they have considered supporting. Nearly three-quarters (74%) could not name a Republican whom they have thought most about possibly voting for; when asked the same question about Democratic candidates, 61% did not name a candidate.
Among Democratic candidates, Sen. Hillary Clinton is named most frequently at 19% by those who have given at least some thought to the 2008 field. On the Republican side, 14% volunteered Sen. John McCain as the candidate they have thought most about possibly supporting.
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted among 1,502 adults from Dec. 6-10, finds that more Democrats than Republicans or independents have given a lot of thought to possible candidates in 2008. Among Democrats, nearly a third (31%) have given a lot of thought to the candidates, compared with 21% each of Republicans and independents.