7th May 2008
New Zealanders Prefer Obama
Both Democrats would smash McCain
Asked who they would like to see as a Democratic Presidential candidate, 47% of New Zealanders chose Obama, 31% Clinton
with 22% unable to offer an opinion.
In the States, Obama’s core voting supporters are black, wealthy and the young. Hillary Clinton’s are white voters, the
working class and older voters. These trends are apparent in New Zealand although nowhere near as marked as in the
States.
Maori and Pacific Island voters decisively prefer Obama and he does better amongst New Zealanders under 45 years.
Hillary Clinton does better amongst New Zealand blue collar voters. There is not much difference by gender.
National and Labour voters recorded almost identical results with National voters favouring Obama 44% to 33% and Labour
voters by 47% to 33%.
If New Zealanders had a vote in the US presidential election later this year there would be a change to a Democratic
President.
Given the choice of Obama vs McCain, 62% of New Zealanders go for Obama and 14% for McCain. Given the choice of Clinton
vs McCain, 56% go for Clinton and 20% for McCain. Even National voters decisively favour the Democratic candidates
plumping for Obama by a 55% to 20% margin over McCain and Clinton 53% to 25% over McCain.
ENDS