Clinton Stumbles In Election Polls
While still holding a solid lead against her Democrat rivals in the race for her party's nomination, new polls suggest Sen. Hillary Clinton's stumble at a presidential debate in Philadelphia has caused the front-runner to drop in the polls, both nationally and in the key primary state of New Hampshire.
A national poll issued by Rasmussen Reports yesterday showed Mrs. Clinton's support falling to 39 percent, her lowest total since Sept. 28. As early as Oct. 24, six days prior to the debate where Mrs. Clinton gave conflicting answers to a question on her support for driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, the Clinton campaign had 49 percent of the vote.
"Sen. Clinton's fall in the polls in not surprising," stated Brian Darling, political analysts for the Heritage Foundation. Arguing her numbers were a bit inflated, Mr. Darling also said the dip in the polls "shows that immigration is an issue bigger than most anticipated."
During the Oct 30 debate, Mrs. Clinton was asked if she supported the decision of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, a question she seemed uncomfortable answering. Mrs. Clinton, clearly out of her comfort zone, stumbled, appearing to take both sides of the issue.
In the days following the debate, Mrs. Clinton's chief rivals, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who has 21 percent nationally, and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who stands at 16 percent, charged the Clinton campaign with wanting to avoid answering tough questions.
"The fact that she was so indecisive showed she was human and took away from the perception she is invincible," explained Mr. Darling.
Mrs. Clinton's lead not only shrunk nationally; her lead in New Hampshire was reduced to just 10 percentage points. In the first Rasmussen poll conducted in New Hampshire since the debate, Mrs. Clinton had 34 percent of the vote, Mr. Obama 24 percent, and Mr. Edwards 15 percent. Mrs. Clinton had a 16-point lead in a previous poll.
"The knock against the Clinton campaign is that they won't take a stand on the issues," Mr. Darling said, a campaign strategy that will have to change if Mrs. Clinton is to hold her front-runner status.
"It is too early in the game to give up touchdowns," stated Mr. Darling. "While Sen. Clinton does not have to completely change her campaign strategy, she will have to start answering questions."
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