Thursday, March 20, 2008

The First Set of Numbers

With the Democratic presidential race still too close to call, West Virginia is in a position where our votes may actually count for something this time around. In fact, the past two days has seen both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama make appearances in the Charleston area (one of my coworkers got holed up with Obama in a downtown eatery today, in fact).

With that in mind, we've gotten our first poll of the race in WV, courtesy of Rasmussen Reports. For the Obama fans, it ain't pretty:

Looking down the road to May 13, Senator Hillary Clinton holds a huge lead over Senator Barack Obama in the West Virginia Presidential Primary. The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race shows that Clinton attracts 55% of the Likely Democratic Primary Voters while Obama is supported by 27%. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.

* * *

By a 48% to 31% margin, the West Virginia voters believe Clinton will be the stronger general election candidate against John McCain.
Note, however, that this survey was completed before Obama's big speech in Philly the other day, so that may change things slightly.

Count me in the 18% undecided. I really can't develop strong feelings one way or the other. Every time one of them gains an upper hand in my mind, something else causes me to have second thoughts. Either one will be a better choice than McCain, but I'd really like to get excited - even a little bit - before the primaries are over.

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