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Hillary tears ahead of rivals
01/08/2007 23:01 - (SA)
New York - US former first lady Hillary Clinton is tearing away from her rivals for the Democrats' 2008 presidential nomination after performing well in televised debates, a new poll showed on Wednesday.
The poll by The Wall Street Journal and NBC news showed the New York senator surging to a 21-point lead over her nearest challenger, Barack Obama, with 43% support against his 22%, the newspaper reported.
This was a giant leap from her 14% lead in a June poll. Former senator John Edwards was third with 13%.
But in a sign of contenders' precarious fortunes months ahead of the nomination, another poll had Obama drawing dead level with Clinton in the crucial nominating state of New Hampshire.
The Journal cited Clinton's strong performances in a series of debates by Democratic candidates, in which she is regarded as having shown greater experience than her younger rival.
The report also said she seems to have successfully dealt with tough criticism of her 2002 vote for military action in Iraq - now an unpopular conflict in its fifth year - by stepping up her opposition to the war in recent months.
Several polls over recent weeks have given Clinton the lead, while former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani is leading the hunt for the Republican nomination.
Still, according to figures from the American Research Group, Obama's support in the all-critical state of New Hampshire equals Clinton's, each with 31%.
The northeastern state can boost or trip up a contender at the starting post, since it is always the first to hold a presidential primary election to nominate a candidate.
The American Research Group poll was conducted during the last week of July amid a public spat between Clinton and Obama which erupted in a televised debate.
Clinton charged Obama had shown a lack of experience when he said that as president he would be willing to meet with leaders of rogue nations such as North Korea, Cuba and Syria, among others.
- AFP
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