With nearly 50 SADC members and volunteers casting ballots in our Labor Day "Straw Poll", former North Carolina Senator and 2004 Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards polled the most first place votes (18), and added solid 2nd (12) and 3rd place (8) numbers as well. Perhaps more importantly, very few voters ranked him low among the eight candidate choices. He was rated either 1, 2, or 3 on all but 3 ballots. Two of these had him ranked 4th.
The recognized nationwide polling favorites and fundraising leaders, New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama followed Edwards in the number of "first choice" ballots- Clinton receiving 11 and Obama six. Obama, however, garnered an impressive 17 second place ballots, while Clinton added just five. Both had significant 3rd place votes- Obama with nine, Clinton with 10.
One polling trend that was also apparent in our vote was the supposedly "polarizing" effect of Senator Clinton. Despite her strong support from many of our voters, she also received very low rankings from many others. Along with her 26 ballots as one of the top three, she also gathered a startling six disapproving votes as the 8th ranked candidate- below even longshot former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel! Moreover, Clinton received a total of 14 votes at 5th place or lower.
It is widely accepted that Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are leading this large pack, though Edwards is often considered the third in nationwide popularity. Thus, the SADC poll results do come as at least a small surprise. The remaining candidates are generally seen as comprising a "second tier" out of which they will have to rise in order to be recognized as true contenders for the nomination. Yet, among our activists there is some support for the "underdogs".
New Mexico Governor and former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson took in a respectable four 1st place votes. Richardson, a former UN Ambassador as well, also gained some support for 2nd (2), 3rd (7), and 4th (8). Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, an early and outspoken critic of Bush's War in Iraq, was chosen first by three voters, adding three for 2nd place and two for 3rd. Delaware Senator Joe Biden had the only other first place vote. He also was ranked 2nd by three voters and 3rd by another three. The worst showing was by Gravel, whose relative obscurity may have led to the 22 rankings as the 8th and final choice. Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd didn't fare much better, receiving 11 votes for 7th place. He had a single 3rd place ranking.
Because voters were given an opportunity to "write in" candidates who have not actually entered the race, it is worth noting that former Senator and Vice President (and popularly elected "President") Al Gore was picked by three voters as preferable to any of the other eight. Such names as Bill Bradley (former New Jersey Senator and presidential candidate), Ralph Nader (Green Party and Independent Candidate), and Michigan-born filmmaker Michael Moore also appeared on single ballots, as did author Gore Vidal and noted intellectual Noam Chomsky. Rounding out the list were local favorites Andy Coulouris and Garnet Lewis. Yours truly gathered one "9th place" vote, a dubious honor.
More on the SADC "Straw Poll" Coming Soon.