Oklahoma 2008 Presidential Poll

There are no real surprises among the leaders in an Oklahoma poll of the likely GOP and Democratic contenders. Here's the story Tulsa TV station KOTV:

The latest violence in Iraq has left at least 120 dead and hundreds more injured. The Iraq War will be a defining issue in the 2008 Presidential Campaign. With A growing field of candidates, we wanted to know who Oklahoma prefers as America’s next leader. We teamed with the Tulsa World to see who leads the race for the GOP nomination. Twenty-five percent of Oklahoma Republicans say they'd support Arizona Senator John McCain. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani is second with 17 percent. With 16 percent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who has said she will not run, is third. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was fourth with 14 percent.

(snip)

Twenty-eight percent of Oklahoma Democrats put Hillary Clinton in the driver's seat. Former Senator John Edwards did well in Oklahoma when he ran for president in 2004 - he comes in second with 23 percent. Senator Barack Obama from Illinois is third with 14 percent, and former Vice President Al Gore is fourth, polling in the single digits.

It's interesting who the Republicans support. McCain is no longer the maverick he once was and is now largely an illusion who's trying to woo the far right; and he continues to support Bush's failed presidency. Guiliani is the most moderate of the four but there are serious questions about his fitness to serve and his character. Newt Gingrich is the architect of the Republican Party's failures over the last twelve years and he clearly is itching for World War III. And Condi Rice is imcompetent. This is the best the Republican Party can do? This is their response to Bush's failed presidency? At some point, reality has to kick in and Republicans have got to start rebuilding their party. I notice the poll doesn't mention Chuck Hagel or some of the other Republican candidates.

In the Democratic poll, I'm surprised to see Al Gore listed since he says he's not running and most Democrats know that. I'd like to see a poll where voters are asked to suppose or assume that he's running and then see how he does. I think the former vice president would do well.

My one concern about the poll is that the story doesn't say how many people were polled or how many candidates for each party were mentioned or how many people are undecided. But I'm willing to assume it's reasonably accurate for Oklahoma.