While RI Future has our own presidential poll going on, a new Brown U. survey by Darrell West has Hillary Clinton with a substanial lead over her Democratic challengers. The survey was done on 1/27 based on a random sample of 341 registered, likely primary voters with a margin of error of 6% (NOTE: this is a high MoE).
* Hillary Clinton - 33%
* Barack Obama - 15%
* John Edwards - 8%
* Joe Biden - 4%
* Chris Dodd - 2%
* Bill Richardson - 1%
* Tom Vilsack - 1%
* Undecided - 36%
Further, in a larger poll of 475 registered voters in Rhode Island (margin of error of 5%), West looks at potential head-to-head matchups:
* Clinton - 49% | McCain - 36% | Undecided - 15%
* Clinton - 49% | Giuliani - 37% | Undecided - 14%
* Clinton - 56% | Romney - 26% | Undecided- 18%
* Obama - 40% | McCain - 37% | Undecided - 23%
* Obama - 43% | Giuliani - 38% | Undecided - 19%
* Obama - 52% | Romney - 26% | Undecided- 22%
And, from the same survey, here are the approval ratings of our elected officials based on respondents saying they are doing an excellent or good job:
* President George W. Bush - 16% (down from 22% in September)
* Sen. Jack Reed - 60%
* Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse - 32% (with 45% unsure)
* Rep. Jim Langevin - 57%
* Rep. Patrick Kennedy - 51%
* Gov. Don Carcieri - 59%
* Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts - 28% (with 58% unsure)
* Attorney General Patrick Lynch - 40%
* Sec. of State Ralph Mollis - 19% (with 58% unsure)
* Treasurer Frank Caprio - 22% (with 57% unsure)
* Providence Mayor David Cicilline - 67%
* House Speaker Bill Murphy - 26%
* Senate President Joe Montalbano - 19%
Note that in the likely field of Democratic candidates for Governor in 2010, Cicilline has a significant job approval lead over Lynch, Roberts and Caprio. It will be interesting to see how these numbers change as Roberts and Caprio start to make things happen in their respective new offices.