Voice of America, Dec. 22, 2002

A new opinion poll says New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is the favorite to be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004.

In a joint CNN/Time magazine survey, 30 percent of the registered Democrats polled chose Mrs. Clinton as the nominee, compared with 13 percent each for Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.

The survey found Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Kerry would each get 16 percent if Mrs. Clinton does not run.

Senator Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, has said she will not be a candidate in 2004. Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Kerry are yet to officially declare their bids for the presidency.

The poll was taken after former Vice President Al Gore said last Sunday he would not run for president in 2004.

Other possible contenders for the 2004 Democratic nomination include North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt and Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle.