Nationwide opinion polling for the 2008 United States presidential election


This article provides a list of scientific, nationwide public opinion polls that were conducted relating to the 2008 United States presidential election.

Presidential election

Two-way contest: [Barack Obama] vs [John McCain]

Democratic nominee vs. Republican nominee

Margin shading indicates candidate in lead. Red = John McCain; Blue = Barack Obama
Poll SourceDate administeredDemocratic candidate%Republican candidate%Lead margin
October 31 – November 2, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain43%8
October 31 – November 2, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain46%6
October 31 – November 2, 2008Barack Obama53%John McCain40%13
October 31 – November 2, 2008Barack Obama53%John McCain42%11
October 31 – November 2, 2008Barack Obama53%John McCain42%11
October 31 – November 2, 2008Barack Obama55%John McCain44%11
October 30 – November 1, 2008Barack Obama54%John McCain43%11

October 30 – November 1, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain44%7

October 30 – November 1, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain46%5
October 29 – November 1, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain45%2
October 29 – November 1, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain42%7
October 31, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain44%5
October 29–31, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain41%11

October 29 – October 31, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain47%4
October 27–29, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain43%7
October 26–28, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain42%9
October 26–28, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain47%3
October 24–28, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain44%3
October 25–27, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain45%4
October 25–27, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain46%5
October 23–26, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain36%16
October 23–25, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain42%9
October 20–22, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain43%7
October 20–22, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain40%12
October 19–22, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain39%13
October 18–22, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain44%1
October 19–21, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain42%10
October 19–21, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain42%8
October 18–20, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain42%8
October 18–20, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain45%4
October 17–20, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain42%10
October 17–19, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain46%5
October 17–19, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain41%11
October 16–19, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain38%14
October 14–16, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain43%7
October 13–15, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain43%6
October 11–15, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain44%4
October 10–13, 2008Barack Obama53%John McCain39%14
October 12, 2008Barack Obama53%John McCain43%10
October 10–12, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain41%10
October 10–12, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain40%12
October 10–12, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain45%6
October 9–10, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain43%7
October 7–9, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain40%12
October 7–9, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain43%5
October 6–8, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain41%11
October 4–6, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain40%12
October 3–5, 2008Barack Obama53%John McCain45%8
October 3–5, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain42%8
October 1–3, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain40%11
September 27–30, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain40%9
September 28–30, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain41%10
September 27–29, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain43%6
September 23–25, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain42%5

September 23–25, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain45%5

September 23, 2008Barack Obama52%John McCain43%9
September 21–23, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain44%3
September 19–21, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain42%7
September 19–20, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain44%6
September 17–19, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain43%6
September 16–18, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain44%5
September 15–17, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain48%0

September 12–16, 2008Barack Obama48%
John McCain43%
5
September 13–15, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain47%1
September 13–15, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain45%2
September 13–15, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain48%3
September 11–13, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain47%2
September 11–13, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain45%2
September 10–11, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain46%0
September 8–9, 2008Barack Obama42%John McCain45%3
September 8, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain46%0
September 7–9, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain45%0
September 6–8, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain46%1
September 6–8, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain46%1
September 6–8, 2008Barack Obama44%John McCain49%5
September 5–10, 2008Barack Obama44%John McCain48%4

September 5–7, 2008Barack Obama46%
John McCain50%
4

September 5–7, 2008Barack Obama47%
John McCain46%
1
September 5–7, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain48%0
September 3–5, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain46%3
September 2–7, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain40%5
September 1–3, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain44%5
August 30 – September 1, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain42%8
August 30–31, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain43%7
August 30–31, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain43%6
August 29–31, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain39%9
August 29–31, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain40%8
August 26–28, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain45%4
August 23–25, 2008Barack Obama44%John McCain46%2
August 21–23, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain43%4

August 21–23, 2008Barack Obama48%
John McCain45%
3
August 19–20, 2008Barack Obama42%John McCain39%3
August 18–20, 2008Barack Obama39%John McCain38%1
August 15–19, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain42%3
August 15–18, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain42%3
August 16, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain45%1
August 14–16, 2008Barack Obama41%John McCain46%5
August 5–7, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain43%3
August 5–7, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain46%1
July 24–26, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain40%9
July 22–24, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain41%6
July 18–21, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain41%6
July 7–14, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain39%6
July 11–13, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain43%3
July 10–13, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain46%3
July 9–13, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain40%7
July 8–13, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain41%9
July 9–10, 2008Barack Obama44%John McCain41%3
June 26–29, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain45%5
June 26–29, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain38%8
June 26–28, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain43%6
June 25–26 & 28, 2008Barack Obama46%John McCain42%4
June 19–23, 2008Barack Obama49%John McCain37%12
June 18–19, 2008Barack Obama51%John McCain36%15
June 17–19, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain44%4
June 15–19, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain44%6
June 17–18, 2008Barack Obama45%John McCain41%4
June 12–14, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain42%5
June 11, 2008Barack Obama47%John McCain41%6
June 9, 2008Barack Obama50%John McCain44%6
June 9, 2008Barack Obama48%John McCain42%6
May 26–28, 2008Barack Obama44%John McCain40%4

Four-way contest

Five-way contest

Earlier polls

Two-way contest

Related article: Graphical Representations of Two-Way Contest Data

Democratic nominee vs. Republican nominee

Democratic field vs. Republican field

Three-way contest

See
Poll SourceDateDemocrat%Republican%Independent%
January 30–31, 2008Hillary Clinton41%John McCain41%Michael Bloomberg6%
January 30–31, 2008Hillary Clinton46%Mitt Romney30%Michael Bloomberg8%
Nov 9-11, 2007Hillary Clinton43%Rudy Giuliani38%Michael Bloomberg11%
Oct 19–21, 2007Hillary Clinton45%Rudy Giuliani35%Stephen Colbert13%
Oct 19–21, 2007Hillary Clinton46%Fred Thompson34%Stephen Colbert12%
Sep 25–26, 2007Hillary Clinton42%Rudy Giuliani32%Mike Bloomberg7%
July 27–30, 2007Hillary Clinton42%Rudy Giuliani34%Michael Bloomberg11%
July 12–14, 2007Hillary Clinton41%John McCain36%Mike Bloomberg11%
July 12–14, 2007Hillary Clinton44%Rudy Giuliani37%Mike Bloomberg7%
July 12–14, 2007Hillary Clinton44%Fred Thompson37%Mike Bloomberg8%
July 12–14, 2007Hillary Clinton44%Mitt Romney32%Mike Bloomberg10%
July 12–14, 2007Barack Obama43%Rudy Giuliani39%Mike Bloomberg6%
July 12–14, 2007Barack Obama41%John McCain37%Mike Bloomberg9%
July 12–14, 2007Barack Obama44%Fred Thompson36%Mike Bloomberg7%
July 12–14, 2007Barack Obama45%Mitt Romney29%Mike Bloomberg9%
July 12–14, 2007John Edwards39%Rudy Giuliani41%Mike Bloomberg9%
July 12–14, 2007John Edwards39%John McCain36%Mike Bloomberg11%
July 12–14, 2007John Edwards42%Fred Thompson37%Mike Bloomberg8%
July 12–14, 2007John Edwards43%Mitt Romney31%Mike Bloomberg10%
July 10–12, 2007Hillary Clinton40%Rudy Giuliani33%Michael Bloomberg10%
July 6–8, 2007Hillary Clinton45%Rudy Giuliani39%Michael Bloomberg12%
June 26–27, 2007Hillary Clinton39%Rudy Giuliani37%Michael Bloomberg7%
June 22–24, 2007Hillary Clinton41%Rudy Giuliani38%Michael Bloomberg17%
June 22–24, 2007Barack Obama40%John McCain34%Michael Bloomberg21%
June 20–21, 2007Hillary Clinton46%Rudy Giuliani37%Michael Bloomberg11%
June 20–21, 2007Hillary Clinton48%Fred Thompson33%Michael Bloomberg13%
June 20–21, 2007Hillary Clinton46%John McCain35%Michael Bloomberg13%
June 20–21, 2007Barack Obama44%Rudy Giuliani38%Michael Bloomberg11%
June 20–21, 2007Barack Obama47%Fred Thompson32%Michael Bloomberg14%
June 20–21, 2007Barack Obama46%John McCain35%Michael Bloomberg11%
June 3, 2007Hillary Clinton38%Rudy Giuliani29%Michael Bloomberg21%
June 3, 2007Barack Obama32%Fred Thompson20%Michael Bloomberg32%
June 3, 2007John Edwards34%Mitt Romney18%Michael Bloomberg32%
Feb 13–14, 2007Hillary Clinton40%Rudy Giuliani46%Ralph Nader5%
Dec 14–17, 2006Hillary Clinton37%Rudy Giuliani28%John McCain20%
Dec 8–11, 2006Hillary Clinton40%John McCain39%Michael Bloomberg10%
Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2006Hillary Clinton41%Rudy Giuliani45%Donald Trump7%
Sep 18–20, 2006Hillary Clinton39%Rudy Giuliani44%Michael Bloomberg8%
Nov 11–15, 2005Hillary Clinton34%Jeb Bush18%John McCain40%
Nov 11–15, 2005Hillary Clinton35%Condoleezza Rice20%John McCain35%

Support likelihood

Democratic candidate

Republican candidate

Other polls

Candidate distinctions

;Would you be willing to vote for a female presidential candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200788%11%
Feb 6–9, 200781%12%
Dec 6–7, 200686%8%
Jan 20–25, 200692%5%
Apr 6–7, 200572%17%

;Would you be willing to vote for an African American presidential candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200794%5%
Jan 17–18, 200779%12%
Dec 6–7, 200693%3%

;Would you be willing to vote for a Mormon presidential candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200772%24%
Dec 6–7, 200666%25%
Nov 20, 200638%43%

;Would you be willing to vote for a Roman Catholic presidential candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200795%4%

;Would you be willing to vote for a Jewish presidential candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200792%7%

;Would you be willing to vote for a Hispanic presidential candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200787%12%

Would you be willing to vote for a thrice-married candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200767%30%

Poll SourceDateComfortableReservationsUncomfortable
Feb 9-11, 200754%13%30%

Would you be willing to vote for a seventy-two year old candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200757%42%

Poll SourceDateComfortableReservationsUncomfortable
Feb 9-11, 200743%15%42%

;Would you be willing to vote for a homosexual candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200755%43%

;Would you be willing to vote for an atheist candidate in 2008?
Poll SourceDateYesNo
Feb 9-11, 200745%53%

Candidate quality

If elected, would the following candidate make a good president or a bad president?

Candidate ideology

;Do you think the following candidate is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?
Poll SourceDateCandidateToo Liberal %Too Conservative %About Right %Unsure %
Feb 12–15, 2007Rudy Giuliani16%16%51%17%
Feb 12–15, 2007Hillary Clinton39%6%44%11%