This month, responding to the complaints, SUSA decided to poll other Democrats in key states besides Clinton.
MISSOURI 11 Electoral Votes; 2004 results: Bush 53, Kerry 46
Obama 46 Obama 48 Obama 51
Giuliani 44 Thompson 45 Romney 40
Clinton 45 Clinton 48 Clinton 51
Giuliani 48 Thompson 45 Romney 40
Edwards 47 Edwards 50 Edwards 56
Giuliani 42 Thompson 40 Romney 32
OHIO 20 Electoral Votes; 2004 results: Bush 51, Kerry 49
Obama 39 Obama 42 Obama 45
Giuliani 52 Thompson 50 Romney 46
Clinton 47 Clinton 48 Clinton 52
Giuliani 48 Thompson 47 Romney 42
Edwards 47 Edwards 52 Edwards 56
Giuliani 48 Thompson 43 Romney 36
IOWA 7 Electoral Votes; 2004 results: Bush 50, Kerry 49
Obama 50 Obama 51 Obama 51
Giuliani 42 Thompson 41 Romney 41
Clinton 50 Clinton 50 Clinton 50
Giuliani 42 Thompson 44 Romney 43
Edwards 53 Edwards 54 Edwards 54
Giuliani 39 Thompson 37 Romney 38
NEW MEXICO 5 Electoral Votes; 2004 results: Bush 50, Kerry 49
Obama 46 Obama 52 Obama 55
Giuliani 46 Thompson 41 Romney 36
Clinton 51 Clinton 53 Clinton 54
Giuliani 43 Thompson 42 Romney 39
Edwards 48 Edwards 52 Edwards 54
Giuliani 44 Thompson 37 Romney 34
At least in these states, at this point of the race, the GOP's best candidate is clearly Giuliani, and the Democrat with the best numbers is Edwards.
Update: As you digest these numbers, don't overlook the "name ID" factor. Romney suffers from it worst of all, but Thompson as well. On the Democratic side, Obama has the biggest "name ID" gap, though closing. For example, look at how Obama is closing the gap against Giuliani in New Mexico, Missouri, and even Ohio (where this month's results look to be outliers compared to previous results).
Likewise, Romney wouldn't stay 200 miles behind his Democratic opponents during a 9-month general election. So like any poll, add grains of salt by the bucketloads.
