When GOP primary voters were asked to choose among the top four, the field broke into upper and lower ranks. On top were Giuliani, 32%, and Thompson, 28%; below were McCain, 17%, and Romney, 14%.
In the Democratic contest, Clinton's strong support among women, liberals, minorities and older voters has kept her in first place.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday June 13, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 60 words Type of Material: Correction
Presidential poll: A chart accompanying an article Tuesday in Section A reporting the results of a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll said 31% of Democratic voters surveyed thought it was more important for the candidate they choose in the primary to have "long experience in government and policymaking" than to be someone who "bridges partisan divides." It should have said 39%.
"I just believe that she's right for the time," said Phyllis Fisher, 67, an Arkansas independent who plans to vote in the Democratic primary.
The poll found Clinton a heavy favorite among Democratic primary voters who value long experience in government and policy-making over an ability to bridge partisan divides.
But a majority of Democrats and independents who plan to vote in the party's nominating contests say a candidate's ability to bridge those divides is more important -- and those voters favor Obama.
Among Obama's other strengths: Younger voters prefer him to Clinton, and he runs well -- roughly even with Clinton -- among more affluent and more educated voters.
His supporters are also more inclined than Clinton's to view the Iraq war as the most important issue in the race.
"We should have never gotten involved in it," said Kentucky nurse Frederick Cole, 52, a Democrat. Obama's opposition to the war before it started is part of what motivated Cole's support.
Beyond the top candidates, the poll found no evidence of a breakthrough by lesser-known Democrats: Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware gets 5%; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, 4%; Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, 2%; and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, 1%.
Narrowed to three choices, Clinton finishes first with 42%, followed by Obama, 32%, and Edwards, 20%.
Good news for Giuliani
The hypothetical general-election matchups did not include Thompson, since he has not formally entered the race. In many cases, the poll found that top Democrats and the top Republicans would be locked in close contests.
The notable exceptions include Giuliani defeating Clinton, 49% to 39%, and Romney losing by double digits to Obama or Edwards. Also lopsided was Obama's margin over McCain: 47% to 35%.
Obama would defeat Giuliani, 46% to 41%, the poll found, and Edwards also ran ahead of the former mayor, 46% to 43%.
The poll of 1,056 registered voters was conducted by telephone Thursday through Sunday. Republican-leaning voters totaled 408; Democratic ones numbered 449. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for all voters, and plus or minus 5 points for voters in each primary.
