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Home , Dennis Kucinich, Evan Bayh, Michael Bloomberg, Russ Feingold, Tom Vilsack

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Presidential Election: More People Would “Consider Voting for” and Choose Clinton and Obama Than Would Consider or Choose Any Republican Candidate Clinton, Obama and Edwards most popular Democratic candidates; Giuliani and McCain Top Republican candidates – but both trail .

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – , 2007 – A new Harris Poll asks the public questions about current and potential presidential candidates that are slightly different from those asked in most other polls. First, people are asked who on a long list of 34 political leaders they would “consider voting for .” Then they are asked who of all the listed leaders “they would most likely vote for .” Unlike some other polls, all adults regardless of their party affiliation are asked about all candidates.

This is a Harris Poll of 3,423 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive ® between February 2 and 8, 2007. Because it is an online survey, respondents were able to review the list of all 34 potential candidates to say whom they would consider and prefer. Like all polls conducted well before an election, it should not be read as a prediction. Rather, it is a snap shot of the presidential “horse race,” as the horses are beginning to leave the starting gate.

The Leaders Among Democratic Voters remains the front runner among Democrats. Fully 74 percent of Democrats would consider voting for her and 36 percent pick her as their first choice. However, has moved up into a strong second place, with 53 percent of Democrats saying they would consider him and 18 percent who pick him as their first choice. They are followed by (44% would consider him and 9% prefer him) and (44% would consider him and 7% prefer him). None of the other 13 Democrats listed comes close to these four.

The Leaders Among Republicans Although there are no suggestions that he will be a candidate, Colin Powell is still a popular figure who enjoys substantial support, and not just from Republicans and Independents. Overall, thirty two percent say that they would consider him voting for him, while 51 percent of Republicans and 33 percent of Independents say the same.

Among those who are running or are likely to run, the clear Republican leader is now (who would be considered by 58% of Republicans and is the first choice of 21% of them). Next on the list is John McCain, who would be considered by 46 percent and is preferred by 15 percent. They are followed by (considered by 42%, and the first choice of 6%) and (considered by 27% and the first choice of 8%).

The Harris Poll ® #14, February 14, 2007 By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll The Leaders Among Independents Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are more popular among Independents than any Republican leaders: • Forty percent of Independents would consider voting for Clinton and 35 percent would consider voting for Obama, more than those who would consider voting for Giuliani (27%) or McCain (27%); • Sixteen percent of Independents pick Clinton as their first choice and eight percent pick Obama, ahead of the six percent who prefer Giuliani and the five percent who prefer McCain.

The Leaders Among All Adults Among all adults, Senator Clinton is the clear front runner. Fully 45 percent would consider voting for her compared to 37 percent for Obama, 29 percent for Giuliani, 28 percent for Edwards, 26 percent for McCain and 26 percent for Al Gore.

When it comes to picking their one preferred candidate, 20 percent of adults choose Clinton, 10 percent choose Obama, eight percent choose Giuliani, six percent choose McCain and five percent choose Edwards. The current substantial Democratic tilt of the public in the presidential election is clear from a summary of these results: • Fully 71 percent of adults would consider one or more of the Democratic leaders, compared to 58 percent who would consider one of the Republicans; • 45 percent of adults pick a Democrat as their first choice, compared to 31 percent who pick a Republican leader.

However, we should remember there is only one certainty in the run up to next year’s elections. These numbers will change and they will change a lot.

The Harris Poll ® #14, February 14, 2007 By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll TABLE 1 DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ADULTS “WOULD CONSIDER VOTING FOR” FOR PRESIDENT “Although the U.S. presidential election is not until November, 2008, there are a number of people who may run for president. If you were to vote and had to select from the following candidates, for which of the following people would you consider voting?” Base: All adults Party ID Total Republican Democrat Independent % % % % Hillary Clinton 45 10 74 40 Barack Obama 37 15 53 35 John Edwards 28 10 44 27 Al Gore 26 5 44 23 12 2 23 9 12 14 12 10 8 3 12 8 8 2 13 8 8 3 12 6 7 2 12 6 5 1 9 4 4 * 8 4 4 2 6 4 Christopher Dodd 4 1 7 3 3 2 6 2 3 * 4 2 1 - 2 1 Note: Multiple-response question *Less than .5%; -No response

TABLE 2 REPUBLICAN LEADERS PEOPLE “WOULD CONSIDER VOTING FOR” FOR PRESIDENT “Although the U.S. presidential election is not until November, 2008, there are a number of people who may run for president. If you were to vote and had to select from the following candidates, for which of the following people would you consider voting?” Base: All adults Party ID Total Republican Democrat Independent % % % % Colin Powell 32 51 18 33 Rudy Giuliani 29 58 12 27 John McCain 26 46 13 27 Condoleezza Rice 19 42 5 16 Newt Gingrich 11 27 1 7 Elizabeth Dole 10 22 3 10 7 18 1 6 5 9 3 6 5 11 1 4 Bill Frist 4 10 1 4 4 8 1 3 3 7 1 3 3 4 3 3 3 6 * 3 2 6 * 2 Duncan Hunter 2 4 * 1 Frank Keating 1 4 * 1 Note: Multiple-response question *Less than .5% The Harris Poll ® #14, February 14, 2007 By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll TABLE 3 DEMOCRATIC LEADERS WHO WOULD BE FIRST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT “If you could vote for one candidate, who would you most likely vote for?” Base: All adults Party ID Total Republican Democrat Independent % % % % Hillary Clinton 20 4 36 16 Barack Obama 10 3 18 8 John Edwards 5 1 9 4 Al Gore 4 1 7 4 John Kerry 1 * 2 1 Bill Richardson 1 * 1 1 Joe Biden 1 * 1 1 Joe Lieberman 1 * * 1 Note: Wesley Clark, Dennis Kucinich, Mark Warner, Russ Feingold, Evan Bayh, Howard Dean, , Mike Gravel and Tom Vilsak were all listed and were chosen by less than 0.5% *Less than .5%

TABLE 4 REPUBLICAN LEADERS PEOPLE WOULD PICK AS FIRST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT “If you could vote for only one candidate, who would you most likely vote for?” Base: All adults Party ID Total Republican Democrat Independent % % % % Rudy Giuliani 8 21 2 6 Colin Powell 6 12 2 6 John McCain 6 15 1 5 Newt Gingrich 3 8 1 1 Condoleezza Rice 3 6 * 2 Mitt Romney 1 3 - 1 Mike Huckabee 1 2 * * Note: Elizabeth Dole, Tom Tancredo, Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback, Michael Bloomberg, George Pataki, Chuck Hagel, Bill Frist, Duncan Hunter, and Frank Keating were all listed and were chosen by less than 0.5% *Less than .5%; -No Response

TABLE 5 SUMMARY: THOSE WHO WOULD CONSIDER AND CHOOSE ANY OF THE LISTED LEADERS Base: All adults Party ID All Adults Republican Democrat Independent % % % % Would consider one of the 71 41 95 69 listed Democratic leaders Would consider one of the 58 91 35 59 Republican leaders 1st Choice would be one of the listed Democratic 45 9 76 38 leaders 1st Choice would be one of the listed Republican 31 73 7 25 leaders

The Harris Poll ® #14, February 14, 2007 By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll Methodology This Harris Poll ® was conducted online within the between February 2 and 8, 2007among 3,423 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite “margin of error” for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 3,423 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- two percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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About Harris Interactive Harris Interactive is the 12 th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com .

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://go.hpolsurveys.com/HarrisPoll .

Press Contact: Tracey McNerney Harris Interactive 585-214-7756

Harris Interactive Inc. 02/07

The Harris Poll ® #14, February 14, 2007 By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll