RAW STORY

If the 2008 presidential election were held today, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) would snuff Senator John Kerry (D-MA) 53% to 35%, and sneak ahead of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) 44% to 42%, according to a Wall Street Journal poll released Friday.

The poll's numbers are in line with previous polls -- but are one of the first surveys to put Sen. Kerry behind former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC). Edwards declared yesterday that he made a mistake in voting for the Iraq war -- which could put his numbers higher in future polls.

At this point in the game, Clinton crushes all other Democratic hopefuls. The erstwhile First Lady pulls 41% among Democrats to 14% for Edwards; former Vice President Al Gore draws 12%, Kerry nabs 10%, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) 5% and Wesley Clark 4%. Mavericks Giuliani and McCain lead Republican field with 34% and 31%, respectively, while Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Senator George Allen (R-VA) draw 5% or less.

Topping the list of those voters think are the worst choices for either party: 17% of Democrats won't back Gore, while 21% of Republicans say they'd dump onetime Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (Gingrich has been seen communing with Hillary Clinton of late). However, Gore scores above the Democrats' previous presidential candidate, Kerry.

Writes the Journal: "General-election trial heats show Frist, after missteps as Senate Majority Leader, would lose handily to Clinton or Kerry. McCain shows greater electability, which could boost his prospects among conservatives who battled him in 2000."

Clarification: The original version of this article failed to note that Gore, while having the highest negative ratings in the poll, was also the presidential choice of 12 percent of Democratic respondents.

Originally published on Friday November 11, 2005