Poll: Huckabee Soars Into GOP's Top Tier

Giuliani Clinging To Lead Among Republicans Nationally; Gap Between Obama, Clinton Narrows

(CBS)  One piece of encouraging news for Clinton is the depth of her support - 58 percent of those who said they were backing Clinton "strongly favor" the former first lady, compared to only 48 percent of Obama supporters. This suggests that a narrow loss in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses may not cause mass-defections from the Clinton camp. She is also widely seen as having the best chance of prevailing in the general election: More than 6-in-10 Democratic voters said she had the best chance of winning the presidency, compared to only 14 percent for Obama and 10 percent for Edwards.

Clinton and Obama have spent the campaign sparring over what is the most compelling feature in a candidate: experience versus new ideas. Democratic voters are split nearly evenly on what they prefer in a presidential candidate, but Clinton has succeeded in persuading one-third of those who want new ideas to vote for her. Meanwhile, Obama has the backing of only 11 percent of Democrats who are focused on experience.

Yet the strongest source of Clinton's support may not be the candidate herself. When her supporters were asked why they were backing the New York senator, topping the list was her husband, former President Bill Clinton, at 26 percent. Those supporting Hillary Clinton because of her relationship with Mr. Clinton barely outnumbered those siding with her because of her experience, who comprised 23 percent of her supporters.

Mr. Clinton's campaigning on his wife's behalf appears to benefit her: 44 percent said having the former president on the trail made them more likely to support Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, only 1 percent said the same concerning Obama's most famous backer, talk-show host and entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey - 80 percent said her support made no difference in their decision.

The poll also contains data that rebuts claims made by Clinton's detractors in both parties that she is a polarizing presence. By a more than 2-to-1 margin, Democrats believe Clinton will bring Americans together rather than divide them. She was also seen as being prepared to be president by 83 percent of respondents, compared to only 41 percent who said so about Obama, and 36 percent for Edwards.

Clinton is also extremely well-liked by Democratic voters - 68 percent had a favorable opinion of her, compared to 54 percent for Obama and 36 percent for Edwards. However, all three had a low disapproval rating of 14 percent, a reflection of the fact that, despite constant media coverage of the race, nearly one-third of Democrats didn't have an opinion of Obama and 50 percent said the same of Edwards, the party's 2004 vice presidential nominee.

That contrasts with data showing that three-fourths of registered voters are paying at least some attention to the campaign - higher at this point than in any campaign since CBS News began asking this question in late 1987.

The National Mood

The poll indicates that, despite congressional Democrats inability to enact much of their platform, they are entering 2008 in a favorable political environment, thanks to growing anxiety over the economy and persistent pessimism regarding the country's direction - both of which are generally bad news for the party in control of the White House.

While the public was split nearly evenly on the state of the economy in October, the escalating housing crisis and other signs of a potential economic slowdown appear to have tipped the scales: now 57 percent say the economy is in bad condition, with 53 percent saying it is getting worse.

The dour economic outlook is coupled with numbers showing a large majority of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction: 71 percent said America is on the wrong track, compared to only 21 percent who said it was headed in the right direction. These numbers have been relatively stable since 2006.

Given these results, it is unsurprising that President Bush's job approval rating remains near his record low, with 28 percent approving of his performance, down from 30 percent in October. That is only 1 percent higher than his worst rating, recorded in June. As expected, Democrats and independents are the chief drivers of Bush's low ratings. Two-thirds of Republicans still approve of his performance.

But majorities in all three groups give a thumbs-down to the Democratic Congress, which has failed to force a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq or enact an expansion of children's health insurance, among other legislative priorities. Only 21 percent of Americans approve of Congress, compared to 64 percent who disapprove. These numbers represent Congress' worst ratings since Democrats took over the House and Senate in January.

While the public still holds a negative view of the war in Iraq, there are signs that reported declines in violence and U.S. and civilian casualties have made Americans somewhat more hopeful. While only 22 percent believed the war was going well in June, now 37 percent do. The public is also split on whether an escalation in troop levels has made things better or had no impact, but only 12 percent believe the so-called surge has made the situation worse.

However, 75 percent of Americans would still like to see a large-scale withdrawal from Iraq within two years, and 60 percent still view the conflict as a stalemate - a number largely unchanged from a year ago.

---

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1133 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone December 5-9, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

[nlitwhiler]

So why do they call him Mitt? His name is Willard.

[nlitwhiler]

Boycott you say?! Ha! Did that a year ago. When I ditched TV altogether. Conservative, I am. I don''t need my daughter watching that stupid machine. TV is for fools and those foolish enough to believe the "news" on it. It is 100 percent entertainment. All the news from that thing can be found on the internet within 20 minutes. And for 1 fifth the cost. With much less bias. Or, bias that seems to be based upon common sense. I only listen to advertisements that really count, from people I know.

[shiddysmurf1]

It''s a good thing corperate media can''t control the internet! MORE RON PAUL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

RON PAUL! RON PAUL!! RON PAUL!!!

[abrooks123j]

Ron Paul makes all the other candidates look petty.
Seeing any of them on either side of the party, I have no doubt that each one is in the race simply for self-aggrandizement -- just so they can be called President.

Ron Paul is doing this for the country...for the people of the country -- that''s the difference.

If you''re tired of business as usual and you really want to take back this country for you instead of the narrow self-interests of the neocons and media, then check out Ron Paul.

Headlines like the one above ("Huckabee Soars Into GOP''s Top Tier") only serve to attempt to make facts out of thin air.

It''s time to take back this country from those who have usurped it for their own narrow ends, fighting endless wars, killing, and putting our soldiers in harms way for interests not of the American people.

Don''t listen to the lies/half-truths of the media. Ron Paul can really win. People in this country are beginning to wake up from their slumber to find that their country has been commandeered...Now watch what we will do ;)

[tennvoter]

What a shame ! And shame on me for taking 50 some odd years to wake up and see just how much the media manipulates the American public ! Nothing has proven that more than watching how every media source in America has effectivly blocked out Ron Paul. I guess I should thank them all for at least making it so easy to see the obvious manipulation, it was like a slap in the face to me. It actually made me sit up and start paying attention and now, for the first time in my life, 51 years, I am going to go out and vote. There is finally someone I believe in enough to make the effort. Someone I feel will give my kids and grandkids a chance at a decent future. If anyone reading this has not read up on Ron Paul , please do your future generation a favor and just take the time to go check him out. The media doesn''t want you to know about him. The current Government doesn''t want you to know about him. Don''t let them make your decisions for you by manipulation. It''s time to wake up and pay attention. Don''t take my word, or anyone else''s, go check him out for yourself. Then vote.

[workplz]

So according to wolf blitzer today Ron Paul is polling at 2%. So the first quarter he raised $639,000 and polled at 2% the 2nd quarter he raised 2.4 mill and polled at 2% the 3rd quarter he raised 5 mill and polled at 2% and this quarter he is looking at 15 mill + and polling at 2%. And people wonder why a lot on Ron Paul supporters beleive in conspiracys

[joeyonassis]

Come on America!! Wake up!! Stop the censorship! Ron Paul is a TRUE AMERICAN! RON PAUL ''08!!

[joeyonassis]

Come on America!! Wake up!! Stop the censorship! Ron Paul is a TRUE AMERICAN! RON PAUL ''08!!

[dictator8]

Huckabee soars??? What about Ron Paul who is now at 92% in this poll?

I don''t understand you, CBS. Why are you trying to do your damnedest to silence Dr. Paul?

Shame on you! I will boycott you and your advertisers!

[luapnor8002]

Isn''t that funny?... Just like Ron Paul disappeared completely from the picture... Hmm. I wonder.......

[js4853]

Why must the media try to sweep Ron Paul under the rug. He is THE front runners so far for the republicans (if that''s what the other candidates claim they are), yet Dr. Paul gets no mention. Ron Paul for president!!

[xtrabiggg]

Garbage in, garbage out... Don''t even offer Ron Paul as a choice in the poll and he doesn''t show up! Exclude him form you ''Candidate Profiles'' while profiling candidates lower in the skewed polls! COuld you be any more biased, unfair and beholden to big money? Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grve! FOr Shame, CBS News!

[dcuptoejuice]

Don''t forget CBS Evening News with Katie Couric excludes Ron Paul every single night with their spoon feeding of their 10 candidates. Thanks for the censorship.

[dcuptoejuice]

CBS, this article couldn''t have any more spin. Pitiful reporting. A poll on whether or not people know Mitt is Mormon! Who cares! Huckabee is the one using religion to get into office, Mitt doesn''t wear his faith on his sleeve and we shouldn''t expect him to.
Paul ''08

[maulotaur]

I only intended to post this once, but the button kept reappearing saying that it was disabled so I thought it did not get posted. Anyway, Ron Paul for President 2008. Protest the fake media dysinformation.

[maulotaur]

Ron Paul for President 2008. Protest the fake media dysinformation.

[maulotaur]

Ron Paul for President 2008. Protest the fake media dysinformation.

[maulotaur]

Ron Paul for President 2008. Protest the fake media dysinformation.

[maulotaur]

Ron Paul for President 2008. Protest the fake media dysinformation.

[maulotaur]

Ron Paul for President 2008. Protest the fake media dysinformation.