Democratic Primary Voters prefer Clinton nearly 2.5 to 1

[motomonkey]

According the NBC Meet The Press this morning, likely Democratic Primary Preferences according to a Washington Post Poll are:

Hillary Clinton 41%
Barack Obama 17%
John Edwards 11%
Al Gore 10%
John Kerry 8%

If this poll is accurate, avery strong lead by Senator Clinton.  But when Al Gore enters the race, he will hurt Hillary the most among party insiders who want experience.  

[adam]

Not good news for the Obama campaign.

[Verily]

We saw this poll here a couple of days ago, I think. It's an outlier; the only poll with Clinton over 40% in nearly a year.

Edit: Here

[Mr. Morden]

Honestly, these national poll numbers don't mean very much.  It's the early primary states that will decide things.  And Clinton isn't looking nearly so hot in IA and NH right now.

[Smash255]

Honestly, these national poll numbers don't mean very much.  It's the early primary states that will decide things.  And Clinton isn't looking nearly so hot in IA and NH right now.

Agreed, not to mention that Hillary still has a tremendous name recognition advantage on Obama.  This far out name recognition is huge, not to mention that pols have been all over the place.

[Eraserhead]

I have almost no doubt this poll is an outlier. Gallup had it way closer and hell Rasmussen even had Clinton and Obama tied.

[skybridge]

Yes, and in December of 2003 they asked Wesley Clark if he could imagine himself as Howard Dean's running mate... (having said that, I hope Obama doesn't turn into 2008's Dean)

What are predictions worth before anyone starts actively campaigning? Remember the last Democratic nominee? The sole Democratic Senatorial Vietnam veteran whose personal history of progressivism bolster enough credibility to attack Bush's war, all while sharing the homestate, elected office and initials of the party's last hero, JFK? All looks good on paper, but it turns out this guy was John Kerry, the lousiest campaigner ever, so your numbers, predictions, and political science dinosaur analyses mean nothing.

However, if recent trends do teach us anything, it'll boil down to who ever can raise the most money--and Clinton unfortunately dwarfs any other Democrat there for now.

[Padfoot]

But when Al Gore enters the race, he will hurt Hillary the most among party insiders who want experience. 

He's not running people.  Give it up.

[motomonkey]

Gore is in 4th place in the Democratic race and he isn't running....yet. This early in the cycle you have to include anyone in the top 5 in both parties.

 I am convinced Gore is going to run (and win) I will give up if he hasn't announced by April 15th.  IMO that is about the latest he can wait and still raise the money and get ready for NH and IA.  Waiting to announce works for Gore.

[Reignman]

Honestly, these national poll numbers don't mean very much.  It's the early primary states that will decide things.  And Clinton isn't looking nearly so hot in IA and NH right now.

or SC for that matter.

[Reaganfan]

I have almost no doubt this poll is an outlier. Gallup had it way closer and hell Rasmussen even had Clinton and Obama tied.

Agree. It also had Clinton, Obama and Edwards all leading McCain and Giuliani, in contrast to most other polls. Clearly, there was more of a bias towards Clinton.

[adam]

Gore is in 4th place in the Democratic race and he isn't running....yet. This early in the cycle you have to include anyone in the top 5 in both parties.

 I am convinced Gore is going to run (and win) I will give up if he hasn't announced by April 15th.  IMO that is about the latest he can wait and still raise the money and get ready for NH and IA.  Waiting to announce works for Gore.

Yep...Gore is running within the margin of error (2 points) ahead of possibly the biggest idiot to have ever been placed on a presidential ticket (John Kerry). Not exactly encouraging.

[Verily]

I have almost no doubt this poll is an outlier. Gallup had it way closer and hell Rasmussen even had Clinton and Obama tied.

Agree. It also had Clinton, Obama and Edwards all leading McCain and Giuliani, in contrast to most other polls. Clearly, there was more of a bias towards Clinton.

That was Newsweek, not ABC/Washington Post.