Political Polls

Recent poll numbers of notable members of congress,and notable DC figures:

[from Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll from 3/27-28]

Here is exact wording of the poll:
"I'm going to read you the names of several individuals and groups. Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one. If you've never heard of someone please just say so. Nancy Pelosi."

Favorable 37%
Unfavorable 31%
Unsure 13%
Never Heard of 19%

*That last category bothers me...these are LIKELY VOTERS and they don't know the Speaker Of The House?*


[This poll is from TIME 3/23-26]

Exact wording:
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is handling her job?"

Approve 55%
Disapprove 32%
Unsure 14%

*I find it interesting that her approval rating is more than twice that of the Presidents'*


[This poll from Pew Research Center 3/21-25]

Exact wording:
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way Harry Reid is handling his job as Senate majority leader?"

Approve 32%
Disapprove 22%
Unsure 46%

*A lot of unsure people out there,it seems*

and lastly...
[this poll from USA Today/Gallup 3/23-25]

Exact wording:
"Next, I'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. How about John McCain?"

Favorable 51%
Unfavorable 28%
Never Heard Of 9%
Unsure 12%

*Again,the "never heard of" people bother me*
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No telling what these polls mean (except for the high percentage of people who, apparently, don't follow current events at all) but it is always interesting to see some numbers of how people feel about certain high ranking politicians.

Way early in the discussion, but my early take on who will be vying for the Presidency in 2008 is Hilary Clinton vs. Rudy Giuliani. I think the Clinton fame/contacts/money will be too much for upstart Barack Obama to overcome. Should Hilary lose the election in '08,however...I fully expect Barack Obama to be the front runner for 2012. The Republican nominee is a tough one to handicap this early. I picked Rudy for now,but it seems like it will be between Rudy and John McCain. Both are good men and it should be a very interesting campaign (hopefully not too slimy,but that may be inevitable)

Intriguing footnote:
This will be first election since 1952 that does NOT feature either an incumbent President or Vice President on one of the tickets...
1952 was Dwight D. Eisenhower vs. Adlai Stevenson
1956- Eisenhower (incumbent) ran and won
1960- Nixon (incumbent VP) ran and lost
1964- LB Johnson (incumbent) ran and won
1968- Humphrey (incumbent VP) ran and lost
1972- Nixon (incumbent) ran and won
1976- Ford (technically an incumbent) ran and lost
1980- Carter (incumbent) ran and lost
1984- Reagan (incumbent) ran and won
1988- Bush Sr. (incumbent VP) ran and won
1992- Bush Sr. (incumbent)ran and lost
1996- Clinton (incumbent) ran and won
2000- Gore (incumbent VP) ran and lost
2004- GW Bush (incumbent) ran and won

prior to 1952,the last time that happened was 1928 when Alfred Smith ran against Herbert Hoover.