Poll: Obama's New Ideas Garner Favor in Iowa

[ellisonz]

ANALYSIS by Gary Langer
Nov. 19, 2007

A growing focus on fresh ideas coupled with lingering doubts about Hillary Clinton's honesty and forthrightness are keeping the Democratic presidential contest close in Iowa, with Barack Obama in particular mounting a strong race against the national front-runner.

Most Democratic likely voters in Iowa, 55 percent, say they're more interested in a "new direction and new ideas" than in strength and experience, compared with 49 percent in July -- a help to Obama, who holds a substantial lead among "new direction" voters.

While Clinton still leads on more personal attributes than any of her competitors, just half of Iowa Democrats in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll believe she's willing to say what she really thinks -- far fewer than say so of either Obama or John Edwards. Obama beats her by 2-1 as the most honest and trustworthy candidate. Her advantage on experience, while substantial, has softened since summer. She has notably less support in Iowa than nationally in trust to handle a variety of specific issues -- on Iraq, for example, Obama now runs evenly with her. And she's third in Iowa among men.

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Plenty of open questions remain -- including where preferences wind up at the caucuses six weeks from now and whether or how Iowans' choices resonate elsewhere. Clearly there's room to move: Forty-three percent say there's a chance they could change their minds by the Jan. 3 caucuses; 20 percent say there's a good chance of it.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Vote2008/story?id=3887274&page=1

This isn't over, but it's not looking good for Senator Clinton...Obama is tied with her among Iowa women. Bold prediction: Hillary will oversaturate Iowa reinforcing the view that she is an opportunist who would struggle in the general election. Iowa is wide open.

:kick:

[bluestateguy]

1. "New Ideas"? Wasn't there a Democratic presidential candidate who had "new ideas" before?

[silverweb]

3. Yup.

But Gary Goofed. He got caught with a lady-not-his-wife on his lap.

That's not going to happen to Barack. He's squeaky clean and it's going to drive the reTHUGs crazy.

[ellisonz]

4. Bill Clinton taught me that a cigar-tube could be used for more than storing a cigar.

[silverweb]

2. Wonderful news!

I've got a feeling this is going to be a very good week.... :)