CBS Poll: Clinton, Obama Tied
McCain Has Big Lead Among Republicans; Also, Most Americans Think Economy Is In Recession
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Obama On Clinton; McCain
From stances on the economy to his position on the Iraq War, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama tells Bob Schieffer about his differences with Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
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McCain On Frontrunner Status
While Republican presidential hopeful John McCain may be leading in the polls, the Arizona senator has gained his share of detractors. McCain discusses his frontrunner status with Bob Schieffer.
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Clinton Trying To Stay Ahead
Hillary Clinton is working hard to stay ahead of Barack Obama, but campaign insiders are lowering expectation for Super Tuesday and preparing for a longer fight. Jim Axelrod reports.
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Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both have the support of 41 percent of Democratic primary voters in the latest CBS News/New York Times poll. (AP Photo)
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Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at a campaign rally in Chesterfield, Mo., Friday, Feb. 1, 2008. McCain has a large lead in the CBS News/New York Times poll. (AP)
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CBS News Polls
Read the latest polls done by CBS News polling unit.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running neck-and-neck among Democratic primary voters, while John McCain appears to have solidified his status as the Republican Party's front-runner, opening up a wide margin over his nearest rival for the GOP nomination, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
The economy is likely to weigh heavily on the minds of Super Tuesday voters as they head to the polls - more than half of Americans now think the economy is in a recession and they believe overwhelmingly that the worst is yet to come.
The poll found that Clinton and Obama both have the support of 41 percent of Democratic primary voters - a drastic change from early January, when Clinton led Obama by 15 percentage points. While Clinton's overall support has remained steady, Obama has made significant gains among men, particularly white men, and African Americans. White male voters are split nearly evenly between the two Democrats, and Obama holds an 12 percentage point advantage among men overall.
Obama has also seen his support among women rise by 11 percentage points, and he now trails Clinton by only 7 percentage points among that group. He trails Clinton narrowly among Democrats but leads her among independent voters by 13 percentage points.
Clinton's edge on the question of electability has also evaporated as voters have seen Obama win by comfortable margins in Iowa and South Carolina while placing a close second to Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada. The survey found that 46 percent of Democratic primary voters think Clinton would make the best general election candidate, while 41 percent said that of Obama - as recently as December, only 14 percent believed the Illinois senator made a better general election candidate.
Clinton holds a similar advantage on the question of which Democrat is most likely to win the nomination. Forty-five percent of those surveyed, including nearly one-in-four Obama backers, believes she will eventually prevail in her bid to be the first female presidential nominee of a major party.
The picture in the states voting on Super Tuesday is not nearly as close as the overall picture and offers some good news for Clinton. Among voters in those states, she leads Obama, 49 percent to 31 percent, with 16 percent still undecided.
Clinton also holds a big edge on the issue of most concern to Democratic voters: the economy. Nearly 60 percent say she would do a better job of managing the economy than Obama. However, more than two-thirds of Democratic voters see the policy differences between the two candidates as minor. .
There is still some fluidity in the Democratic race, with 14 percent saying they're still undecided between the two candidates. Also, over a third of those favoring Clinton and 42 percent of those leaning toward Obama say their minds could change before they cast their ballot.Read The Complete CBS News Poll On The Republican Race
The Democratic Race
The Economy, Iraq and President Bush
The poll was conducted after John Edwards' exit from the race, but neither candidate appears to have gained an edge in the wake of his departure. Many of the undecided voters surveyed said they once backed the former North Carolina senator.
While the national race for the Democratic nomination appears to be a toss-up, John McCain seems on his way to effectively wrapping up the GOP nomination on Feb. 5, if not soon thereafter. He now has the support of 46 percent of Republican primary voters, compared to only 23 percent who support Romney and 12 percent who back former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
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See all 400 CommentsFeb 3, 11:40 AM EST
Clinton health plan may mean tapping pay
By CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she might be willing to garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans.
The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC''s "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people''s wages ..."
"GOING AFTER PEOPLE''S WAGES" ...
IS THAT THE WAY REAL DEMOCRATS TALK? ...
THE REPUBLICANS WILL KILL THE DEMOCRATS WITH THAT KIND OF ANTI-WORKER, ANTI-FREE CHOICE RHETORIC ...
NO THANKS HILLARY.
I THINK THIS ALBATROSS IS ONE YOU SHOULD WEAR YOURSELF ...
Martin Edwin Andersen
Churchton, Maryland
That''s the Brave New World that Hillary and the Democrats have in store for us.
IS THAT THE WAY REAL DEMOCRATS TALK? ...
THE REPUBLICANS WILL KILL THE DEMOCRATS WITH THAT KIND OF ANTI-WORKER, ANTI-FREE CHOICE RHETORIC ...
NO THANKS HILLARY.
I THINK THIS ALBATROSS IS ONE YOU SHOULD WEAR YOURSELF ...
Martin Edwin Andersen
Churchton, Maryland
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Posted by andersenme at 06:11 PM : Feb 03, 2008
+ report abuse
You seem to be awlful nervous here. This is a fascist OPINION of the Clinton Plan, easy for her to counter with the past experience of the American people and such garbage. No, Clinton is better able to deal with this type of mud slinging...she''s dealt with it before. Sieg Heil Bush
Mandated health care just failed in California - I think that''s why Obama''s now leading Clinton in polls in Cali.
PS Jordin Sparks is singing the national anthem on tv now - go Jordin!
That''''s the Brave New World that Hillary and the Democrats have in store for us.
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Posted by hawksprings at 06:16 PM : Feb 03, 2008
+ report abuse
Typical Southern Nazi... some fascist post something and you swallow it hook line and sinker. Why? Not because it''s factual but because YOU think it gives you something to pass around..something to distort and distroy your enemy. THATS how we ended up with the WORST in our history you know?? LOL LOL Sorr but you freaks aren''t going to be very effective with this trash AFTER the last 7 years. LOL Sieg Heil Bush!!
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Posted by ApprovedCBS at 06:20 PM : Feb 03, 2008
+ report abuse
You think??? LOL The political landscape is littered with politicians who have Surged ahead of the Clinton''s. LOL
BULLETIN:
CALIFORNIA''S FIRST LADY MARIA SHRIVER ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA
(UPDATED)
February 3rd, 2008 by Joe Gandelman
California%u2019s first lady Maria Shriver has just appeared as a special surprise guest at the rally for Barack Obama in Los Angeles to endorse him for President. It was aired live on CSPAN.
%u201CI wasn%u2019t on the schedule,%u201D she just said. %u201CI thought to myself when i woke up this morning there%u2019s no place I should be but right here today.%u201D
She said this morning she told her daughter: %u201CI think I should be at UCLA. She said to me %u2018Mommy. If you think you could help, if you think you could change just one person just do it. S I i am here today as a woman and a Californian. I believe elections are a lot like life %u2014 they are made up of moments%u2026The more I though about it, the more I thought this election is about moments%u2026This is a moment not just for hte US of a and for the Democratic party %u2014 this is a moment for California.%u201D ...
With the race neck-and-neck in California, this should carry some weight. Shriver is a highly popular first lady married to a Governor who remains one of the most popular in modern California history %u2014 and a Governor who is highly popular among independent voters, who are allowed to vote in Tuesday%u2019s primary.
...
Hillary''s Health Care Plan:
- The Long lines and efficiancy of the US Post Office.
- The Cost-Overruns of the Pentagon.
- The Courtesy and Compassion of the IRS.
But everyone will be happy because we will all have "HillaryCare."
And the BEST part of HillaryCare?
She won''t be on it.
She''ll have her own, private, best-that-money-can-by Cadillac-insurance that she and the rest of Congress will be on, all fully paid for by you and me.
What is it with your Nazi fetish? You post Nazi slogans all the time. You seem to have an obsession with them.
It''s weird.
Trust me, should you vote for Hillary, McCain, or Obama, you are voting for all the moral uncertainty that comes with progressive thought. The kind of thought that has you helping the poor and unfortunate. The kind of thought that has your tax dollars going to help veterans who dam well knew as soon as they signed up for the military they cold end up on the street, legless and begging for money. Enough of this Wimpy Lib ***. We need a tough guy in the Oval office, a guy who had business in his DNA, a man who could pull off a leverage buyout with his eye closed. MITT ROMNEY!
Please show your support for my patriotic Radio station by purchasing fine products from my sponsors.
God Bless.
With all of the massive pro media publicity and money he has received in the past two weeks, he should be more than nibbling.
Hillary will get the nomination eventually.
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination the other should be picked as vice-president.
Hillary Clinton in the White House means a co-presidency with Bill.
Why would anyone what to take a position that, while it may be a heartbeat from the presidency, is also second fiddle in influence and power?
Who with any self-respect would accept being second-guessed and undercut by Bill Clinton?
The Clinton-Obama ticket idea is being floated by Hillary''s trained seals in part to create a sense of moral equivalency between the two candidates--to the enormous detriment of Barack Obama.
The Clintons have nothing to say to a generation of young people looking for authenticity, honesty and transparency in their leaders and in their government.
That''s why more and more, young people are turning to Barack Obama.
MARTIN EDWIN ANDERSEN
God Bless America!
This country needs more than the words CHANGE and HOPE! We need somebody who''s been in there influencing and helping move legislation a long time!
Teaching Constitutional Law, voting ''Present'' on legislation to avoid a stance while a state legislator, and promoting six pieces of legislation does not make this man the authority on putting this country back on its feet. He wasn''t even a US Senator at the time of the Iraq war vote, and he had more important things to do when the Iran legislation was voted on.
We''ve already had one smart mouth unqualified, haven''t a clue president, we don''t need another one.
Come on democrats, don''t be easily swayed by a known con-artist that is Hillary Clinton.
It''s Obama/Edwards on the ticket or it''s GOP for me.
This is simply because of the fact that 55% of Americans have a negative feeling towards Hillary. Those who are blind or easily swayed support her. Anyone with morals, intelligence and any sense of a judge of character will absolutely NOT vote for Hillary.
As Edwards has said in his suspension speech, I do not know when our party (DNC) stopped listening to the people. Was it when special interests money was easier and more available than energizing voters to our side? The media''s blackout of our candidate is also case in point--it has simply become much more easier to buy popularity than to work for the real solutions in our country and fight for those. Edwards was always the leader on health care, global warming, poverty, the economy and the war in Iraq. Edwards did more to re-shape our party''s platform than any other candidate, and he held the others'' feet to the fire to make sure that they too heard our voices.
Thousands of us are sticking with John Edwards for many reasons, the least of these is that neither of the two left overs have earned our votes. Our votes are not wasted, they are a message to the DNC. They must earn our votes, or lose them forever. This is the only means left we have to speak to the corporatists and elitists in control of our party.
While the supporters of other candidates bicker over who is being misogynist or racist, Edwards'' supporters have only cared about the issues, and doing what is truly right for our country. Until then, they will go to the grown-up wing of the Democratic party, the people''s president, John Edwards.
"You can be disappointed, but you cannot walk away."
Hillary: Tired, angry, and PMSing.
Come on democrats, don''''t be easily swayed by a unknown con-artist that is Obama.
It''''s Hillary/Edwards on the ticket or it''''s GOP for me.
Come on democrats, don''''''''t be easily swayed by a unknown con-artist that is Obama.
It''''''''s Hillary/Edwards on the ticket or it''''''''s GOP for me.
What is this pgantom legislation that Hillary is allegidly moving?
I can remeber after the 2004 election she promised to spearhead an effort to pass a voter bill of rights to address the problems with e-voting and the issues with disenfranchisement that occurred in Ohio, Florida, & New Mexico.
Where did that get moved to?
Kenshin051, I agree with you except for one thing. Either Hillary or Obama are head and shoulders above any Republican candidate and either one of them will have my vote!
But Hillary is tired, angry, and B*tchy, and you know it. America will not elect her president.
Hillary was asked this morning how people would be forced to pay for health insurance. She claimed that people could really afford coverage and were just avoiding paying for it but she dodged answering the question that she dodged during the last debate-she wouldn''t say if she would garnishee wages.
If her plan was really universal she wouldn''t need to make it mandatory and she wouldn''t need to force people to pay premiums they can''t afford.
She lies.
Sen. Obama has been telling voters that he is the one to beat Sen. McCain because he gave a speech against the war in 2002 and because he is currently attracting independent voters. But those arguments don''t hold up to current polling, to history or to what is likely to happen in a general election.
We need someone who can make America powerful and respected again. Hilary is the one who has the ability to do that! We have to vote for Hilary!
We need someone who can make America powerful and respected again! Hilary will do that! We have to have
Hilary lead our country! Please vote for Hilary!
Come on democrats, don''t be easily swayed by a known con-artist that is Hillary Clinton.
It''s Obama/Edwards on the ticket or it''s GOP for me.
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