[UPDATED content consists of Chart images to illustrate the Table Data, by request. I hope readers will find these Graphs of the Rasmussen Poll Data, and my analysis of that data, helpful. Also thanks for all the great feedback.]
As John Edwards emphasized on Good Morning America, this Labor Day, the Poll that matters much more than the National Polls, IS the General Election Match Ups.
Here is the ABC-GMA interview "being fair" in their own special way, in case you missed it:
(many thanks to NCDem Amy)
http://www.youtube.com/...
----
Those General Election Match Ups is where EACH Democratic Candidate is pitted against EACH Republican Candidate, to see exactly WHO, Voters would prefer in each "hypothetical" General Election contest.
In cases where this was polled, EDWARDS WAS THE STRONGEST Candidate against every major GOP Contender (among the major Democratic Contenders)
Edwards has the Largest Margin of Victory against any Republican!
Here are those all important Poll Numbers that the Media, so far HASN'T Reported:
-------
Rasmussen Reports
2008 Democratic Candidate Key Stats
GENERAL ELECTION | MATCH-UPS | |
Democrat | Republican | Wins by |
Edwards 49% | Giuliani 41% | Dems Win +8% |
Edwards 50% | Huckabee 33% | Dems Win +17% |
Edwards 45% | McCain 38% | Dems Win +7% |
Edwards 52% | Romney 36% | Dems Win +16% |
Edwards 49% | Thompson 35% | Dems Win +14% |
Democrat | Republican | Wins by |
Obama 44% | Giuliani 43% | Dems Win +1% |
Obama 48% | Huckabee 39% | Dems Win +9% |
Obama 46% | McCain 40% | Dems Win +6% |
Obama 47% | Romney 38% | Dems Win +9% |
Obama 46% | Thompson 39% | Dems Win +7% |
Democrat | Republican | Wins by |
Clinton 44% | Giuliani 47% | Dems Lose -3% |
Clinton 49% | Huckabee 41% | Dems Win +8% |
Clinton 46% | McCain 44% | Dems Win +2% |
Clinton 51% | Romney 40% | Dems Win +11% |
Clinton 48% | Thompson 44% | Dems Win +4% |
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/...
--------
----------------
AND What DO all those Numbers mean, in a General Elections with Real Candidates? ... Now for some data analysis:
The Strongest Democratic Match up Against:
GOP Candidate | Strongest Dem | Closest Rival |
Giuliani | is Edwards | (7% more than Obama) |
Huckabee | is Edwards | (8% more than Obama) |
McCain | is Edwards | (1% more than Obama) |
Romney | is Edwards | (5% more than Clinton) |
Thompson | is Edwards | (7% more than Obama) |
--------
----------------
Each Match Up has what might be called a Margin of Victory shown below, from the greatest Margin to least, when the top three Democratic Candidates is each tested against the top GOP Candidates.
The Ranking for "Margins of Victory" ...
(aka. Win, Place, or Show for you Horse Race fans )
Contest | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
Dem vs Giuliani: | Edwards 8% | Obama 1% | Clinton -3% |
Dem vs Huckabee: | Edwards 17% | Obama 9% | Clinton 8% |
Dem vs McCain: | Edwards 7% | Obama 6% | Clinton 2% |
Dem vs Romney: | Edwards 16% | Clinton 11% | Obama 9% |
Dem vs Thompson: | Edwards 14% | Obama 7% | Clinton 4% |
--------
----------------
(Hint, Hint, Media Reporters -- maybe this is the real Horse Race that you should be following -- because most informed Voters already ARE !)
What's NOT to Like with those numbers, especially IF your choice is Edwards?
AND if you're JUST starting to check out the Candidates and want to find out more, here is a youtube summary of KEY POINTS that John Edwards has been saying all along:
Meet John Edwards
Shop Well!