A Democratic Edge on Top Issues
The economy and the situation in Iraq have long been the public's top two priorities for this year's presidential election, and on both, more Americans said they think a Democratic president would do a better job handling the issue than a Republican.
By nearly 20-point margins, Americans would choose an unnamed Democrat over a generic Republican president to handle the nation's economy and resolve the situation in Iraq, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll. Nearly six in 10 preferred a Democrat on the economy and a narrow majority chose a Democrat on Iraq.
The Democratic advantage on the economy appears to run deeper than their edge on Iraq, providing a possible boon for the party's eventual nominee as economic issues grow in prominence.
Swing voter groups such as independents (Democrat by 25 points) and white Catholics (Democrat by 19 points) preferred a Democratic president over a Republican to handle the economy -- by wider margins than on Iraq (18 points and 6 points, respectively).
And even some typically Republican groups were more apt to defect to the Democrats on handling the nation's financial future than managing the situation in Iraq. GOP women gave a hypothetical president from their own party a 64-point edge on Iraq, but that drops to 48 points on the economy. White evangelical Protestants prefer a GOPer over a Democrat on Iraq by a 27-point margin the gap is 11 points on the economy. And white voters without a college degree were about evenly split between the two on Iraq, but gave Democrats a 10-point advantage on the economy.
Republicans themselves were more likely to defect than were Democrats on both issues. On the economy, 18 percent of GOPers said they'd prefer a president of the other party, while 7 percent of Democrats expressed a preference across party lines. On Iraq, 15 percent of Republicans went for the Democrat and 7 percent of Democrats chose the Republican.
It is important to note that while these issues have dominated the presidential campaign, hypothetical match-ups pitting Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama against John McCain are much closer, as each candidate would bring a different set of assets and liabilities to the general election table.
Q: Thinking ahead to the next presidential election, do you think a Democratic or a Republican president would do a better job...
...Handling the economy?
Democratic Republican All 55 34 Democrats 89 7 Independents 55 30 Republicans 18 71 Whites 50 38 Blacks 85 6 White evangelical Protestants 40 51 White Catholics 55 36 White non-college 49 39 White college grad 52 35 Top issue: Economy 62 26 Iraq 65 28 National economy: Excellent/Good 23 71 Not so good 46 41 Poor 68 20
...Resolving the situation in Iraq?
Democratic Republican All 52 35 Democrats 89 7 Independents 51 33 Republicans 15 73 Whites 47 40 Blacks 85 7 White evangelical Protestants 30 57 White Catholics 48 42 White non-college 45 42 White college grad 50 38 Top issue: Iraq 63 31 Economy 61 28 Iraq worth fighting: Strong/somewhat yes 16 73 Somewhat no 51 35 Strongly no 77 11
Full question wording and more methodological information from the Post-ABC poll can be found at washingtonpost.com/polls.
By Jennifer Agiesta |
April 25, 2008; 1:44 PM ET
Post Polls
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Posted by: roncraw | April 25, 2008 2:59 PM
the fact of the matter is that the longer this protracted race for the democratic nomination continues the less preferable the Democratic party is going to become in these matchups. I respect Mrs. Clinton, but she needs to withdraw now. She cannot make up her deficits in pledged delegates or states won, and she is hemmorhaging Superdelegates. The party must unite. The Clintons ruled the nineties, It's time to move on, and Senator Obama is the choice apparent.
Posted by: | April 25, 2008 3:55 PM
It is clear now that you Hillary is attempting a Bush-esque White House takeover. If Hillary were half the candidate that Barack Obama is we would not be here now. The ability to lie (blatantly)and pander to the lowest common denominator is not a positive trait.
I am sure that she would not accept for one second the arguments being put fourth by her campaign in regards to FL MI and her attempt at "New Math"
I f she were in Obamas place now She would say that democracy is being derailed for petty political gain. Actually I'm sure she would say alot more - IF she were in Obama's place in regards to the ACTUAL deligate's, votes, states one, and the will of the people.
Posted by: Josh in Seattle | April 25, 2008 6:24 PM
All of these folks are indeed dead and it might all just be a tragic coincidence--- But I wouldn't want to be on their list of associates (just to be on the safe side)!!!!!!!!!!!
SO NOW YOU MIGHT VOTE FOR HILLARY? THINK ABOUT IT FIRST......
This is what happens when you have dirt on the Clintons :
1 - James McDougal - Clinton's convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key witness in Ken Starr's investigation.
2 - Mary Mahoney - A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown. The murder happened just after she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.
3 - Vince Foster - Former white House councilor, and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock's Rose Law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide.
4 - Ron Brown - Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors.
5 - C. Victor Raiser II and Montgomery Raiser, Major players in the Clinton fund raising organization died in a private plane crash in July 1992.
6 - Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock, September 1992... Described by Clinton as a "Dear friend and trusted advisor."
7- Ed Willey - Clinton fund raiser, found dead November 1993 deep in the woods in VA of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.
8 - Jerry Parks - Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in Little Rock. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock. Park's son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton. He allegedly threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house.
9 - James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he had a "Black Book" of people which contained names of influential people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas.
10 - James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an apparent hanging suicide. He was reported to have ties to Whitewater.
11- Kathy Ferguson, ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson, was found dead in May 1994, in her living room with a gunshot to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suitcases, as if she were going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit. Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones.
12 - Bill Shelton - Arkansas State Trooper and fiancee of Kathy Ferguson. Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancee, he was found dead in June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the grave site of his fiancee.
13 - Gandy Baugh - Attorney for Clinton's friend Dan Lassater, died by jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994. His client was a convicted drug distributor.
14 - Florence Martin - Accountant & sub-contractor for the CIA, was related to the Barry Seal Mena Airport drug smuggling case. He died of three gunshot wounds.
15 - Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, ruled a suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.
16 - Paula Grober - Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978 until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car accident.
17 - Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter. Investigating Mena Airport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists, apparently, in the middle of his investigation.
18 - Paul Wilcher - Attorney investigating corruption at Mena Airport with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise" was found dead on a toilet June 22, 1993 in his Washington DC apartment. Had delivered a report to Janet Reno three weeks before his death
19 - Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington, Virginia apartment balcony August15, 1993. He was investigating the Morgan Guarantee scandal.
20 - Barbara Wise - Commerce Department staffer. Worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised, nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce.
21- Charles Meissner - Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small plane crash.
22 - Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee, died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton's advisory council personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather and brother.
23 - Barry Seal - Drug running pilot out of Mena, Arkansas, death was no accident.
24 - Johnny Lawhorn Jr. - Mechanic, found a check made out to Bill Clinton in the trunk of a car left at his repair shop. He was found dead after his car had hit a utility pole.
25 - Stanley Huggins - Investigated Madison Guarantee. His death was a purported suicide and his report was never released.
26- Hershell Friday - Attorney and Clinton fund raiser died March 1, 1994 when his plane exploded.
27 - Kevin Ives and Don Henry - Known as "The boys on the track" case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena Arkansas airport drug operation. A controversial case, the initial report of death said, due to falling asleep on railroad tracks. Later reports claim the two boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES/HENRY CASE:
28 - Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck, July 1988.
29 - Keith McMaskle - Died stabbed 113 times, Nov, 1988
30 - Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January 1989.
31 - Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.
33 - James Milan - Found decapitated. However, the Coroner ruled his death was due to "natural causes."
34 - Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.
35 - Richard Winters - A suspect in the Ives / Henry deaths. He was killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.
THE FOLLOWING CLINTON BODYGUARDS ARE DEAD: 36 - Major William S. Barkley Jr. 37 - Captain Scott J. Reynolds 38 - Sgt. Brian Hanley 39 - Sgt. Tim Sabel 40 - Major General William Robertson 41 - Col. William Densberger 42 - Col. Robert Kelly 43 - Spec. Gary Rhodes 44 - Steve Willis 45 - Robert Williams 46 - Conway LeBleu 47 - Todd McKeehan
Quite an impressive list! Pass this on. Let the public become aware of what happens to anyone who might damage the Clinton machine
Posted by: Larry Oregon | April 25, 2008 6:26 PM
larryoregon.. How many days have Bill and hillary spent in jail. You seem to have more info than Ken Starr had after 2000 subpoenas and 40 million. I think you should take your info to the FBI right now.
Posted by: roncraw | April 25, 2008 9:10 PM
Alas, for the contest in the fall, it will not be held between a generic Republican and a generic Democrat. The Democratic candidate will either still be wet behind the ears or a pathological liar.
Posted by: Ed | April 26, 2008 9:31 AM
Larryoregon-- Inasmuch as this nonsensical "body count" list has been around since 1998, and recently updated with more fantasies, you might profit considerably from a brief review of this:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/bodycount.asp
Parenthetically, why do you think that former Attorney-General John Ashcroft ignored this stunning evidence of conspiracy and murder?
Then again, if having your head implode on a regular basis is a pleasant sensation, feel free to ignore the link.
Posted by: bioesq | April 26, 2008 11:47 AM
Have you noticed the fact that all eyes are on the Democrats in this election, so far. I personally think that the democrats are purposefully keeping this race tight and therefore interesting to keep McCain less interesting and less newsworthy.
Right now we are watching Hillary and Obama duking it out on purely democratic terms. This protracted fight is also making both candidates look tougher. Furthermore, if Obama is the winner, then he will have gained a lot of practice in the fight against the republican hate and slander machine.
The dems are playing it smart by limiting the amount of time the republicans get to spew forth falsehoods and name calling before the Novemeber election. Remember the swift boaters?
Posted by: Tazmodious | April 26, 2008 12:08 PM
CNBC Friday April 25, 2008 6:32am with 2 Nobel Prize Winners (Economics)
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=722561891
2001 Nobel Prize Winner (Economics) Joseph Stiglitz - Obama's speech on the Economy was Brilliant
Barack's Economy Speech:
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/03/27/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_54.php
2006 Nobel Prize Winner Edmund Phelps (Economics) also thinks that Obama is the best of the 3 remaining candidates on the economy
Posted by: Truth12 | April 26, 2008 12:30 PM
This has been order to go to hearing in Novemeber 2008 since Hillary was running for President she has been remove from this case by a California Judge.
__________________________________________
Bill and Hillary To Face Fraud Trial
February 20, 2008
While Hillary Clinton battles Barack Obama on the campaign trail, a judge in Los Angeles is quietly preparing to set a trial date in a $17 million fraud suit that aims to expose an alleged culture of widespread corruption by the Clintons and the Democratic Party.
At the conclusion of a hearing Thursday morning before California Superior Court Judge Aurelio N. Munoz, lawyers for Hollywood mogul Peter F. Paul will begin seeking sworn testimony from all three Clintons - Bill, Hillary and Chelsea - along with top Democratic Party leaders and A-list celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, John Travolta, Brad Pitt and Cher.
Paul's team hopes for a trial in October. The Clinton's longtime lawyer David Kendall, who will attend the hearing, has declined comment on the suit.
The Clintons have tried to dismiss the case, but the California Supreme Court, in 2004, upheld a lower-court decision to deny the motion.
Bill Clinton, according to the complaint, promised to promote Paul's Internet entertainment company, Stan Lee Media, in exchange for stock, cash options and massive contributions to his wife's 2000 Senate campaign. Paul contends he was directed by the Clintons and Democratic Party leaders to produce, pay for and then join them in lying about footing the bill for a Hollywood gala and fundraiser.
The Clintons' legal counsel has denied the former president made any deal with Paul. But Paul attorney Colette Wilson told WND there are witnesses who say it was common knowledge at Stan Lee Media that Bill Clinton was preparing to be a rainmaker for the company after he left office.
Paul claims former Vice President Al Gore, former Democratic Party chairman Ed Rendell and Clinton presidential campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe also are among the people who can confirm Paul engaged in the deal.
Paul claims Rendell directed various illegal contributions to the DNC and Hillary Clinton's campaign and failed to report to the Federal Election Commission more than $100,000 given for a Hollywood event for Gore's campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2000. McAuliffe, Paul says, counseled him in two separate meetings to become a major donor to Hillary Clinton to pave the way to hire her husband. Paul asserts top Clinton adviser Harold Ickes also directed him to give money to the Senate campaign but hid that fact in "perjured testimony" during the trial of campaign finance director David Rosen.
Rosen was acquitted in 2005 for filing false campaign reports that later were charged by the FEC to treasurer Andrew Grossman, who accepted responsibility in a conciliation agreement that fined the campaign 35,000. Paul points out the Rosen trial established his contention that he personally gave more than $1.2 million to Clinton's campaign and that his contributions intentionally were hidden from the public and the Federal Election Commission.
Rosen, accused of concealing Paul's in-kind contribution of more than $1 million, was acquitted, but Paul contends the Clinton staffer was a scapegoat. Paul points out chief Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson told the Washington Post he was aware of the donation, yet he never was called as a witness in the Rosen trial.
Paul contends his case will expose "the institutional culture of corruption embraced by the Clinton leadership of the Democratic Party," which seeks to attain "unaccountable power for the Clintons at the expense of the rule of law and respect for the constitutional processes of government."
The complaint asserts Clinton has filed four false reports to the FEC of Paul's donations in an attempt to distance herself from him after a Washington Post story days after the August 2000 fundraiser reported his past felony convictions. Clinton then returned a check for $2,000, insisting it was the only money she had taken from Paul. But one month later, she demanded another $100,000, to be hidden in a state committee using untraceable securities.
"Why wouldn't that cause someone to inquire?" Paul asked. "Especially since it was days after she said she wouldn't take any more money from me."
Paul has the support of a new grass-roots political action group that is helping garner the assistance of one of the nation's top lawyers
Republican activist Rod Martin says his group plans to highlight Paul's case as it launches an organization based on the business model of the left-wing MoveOn.org but rooted in the principles and political philosophy of former President Reagan.
Martin's group also is assisting in Paul's complaint to the FEC asserting that unless the agency sets aside the conciliation agreement and rescinds immunity granted the senator, it will "have aided and abetted in the commission" of a felony.
Paul's case is the subject of a video documentary largely comprised of intimate "home movies" of Hillary Clinton and her Hollywood supporters captured by Paul during
Posted by: MsRita | April 26, 2008 8:14 PM
If Hillarrhea keeps talking the Democrats will lose their edge in the fall election.She and Bill have been divisive and polarizing within their own party. They do not care about the Democratic Party , as long as they get what they want. The party has worked for 45 years to end discrimination and open the doors to minorities and the Clintons have almost destroyed it in one fell swoop.
Posted by: majorteddy | April 27, 2008 12:02 PM
Countdown to VICTORY
298 Obama
436 Clinton
400 elected incl winner take all Puerto Rico 55 (DOESnT VOTE IN GENERAL)
TIDBITS
Clinton REFUSE TO DEBATE Prim. Sen oppenent regarding war vote
Last request for Lincoln DOUGLAS DEBATE
GOP LOSER Mike Huckalbee
ps if she wins please dont NUKE IRAN
protect the terorist in SAUDI or DRAfT my kids
GO OBAMA
Posted by: DELGATE MATH | April 27, 2008 1:35 PM
The economy can't be improved by tax cuts. Any tax cut would only benefit the companies or persons who already are doing well enough to pay a large tax. That group doesn't really need government help. Instead the aid needs to go to struggling companies and they already pay reduced taxes because of their reduced profits. The economy would be improved by targeted assistance, or by reducing the deficit, not by a tax cut.
Posted by: | April 28, 2008 4:55 PM
If Hillary has her way, Democrats will not have an edge when it matters most: The day in November when the president is elected. We already know she won't win in 2008. Will her smothering sense of entitlement cost us 2008 and 2012?
Posted by: gmundenat | April 28, 2008 11:25 PM
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Anyone that questions Hillarys vote for the war should read senior R senator chuck Hagels book. He wrote he voted for the resoution based on the president's assurance he would do everything possible to find a dipomatic solution before going to war. Just what Hillary has been saying all along. He said he came to realize it was based on half truths,untruths and wishful thinking.