Presidential races may be tightening

WASHINGTON — The races for both parties' presidential nominations are showing signs of tightening. Yet a closer look at the numbers also reveals intriguing crosscurrents that raise questions about how solid the presumed Democratic advantage may be in November 2008.

Surveys show that people would clearly prefer that the Democratic Party win the White House next year, which political operatives and analysts attribute to the deep unpopularity of President Bush and the war in Iraq and a broad desire for change.

When top Republican and Democratic candidates are paired, however, the GOP hopefuls generally do quite well or at least hold their own.

Next year's Election Day is eons away in political time, and many things could happen to alter today's dynamics. For now, the surveys leave it unclear whether the apparent Democratic edge would really hold up should GOP candidates with moderate credentials like Rudy Giuliani or John McCain face Democrats such as Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama.

When people are asked which party they want to capture the White House, "They tell you about the general climate or mood, and that's not good for Republicans," said Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster not working for a presidential candidate.

"It's almost a 'Do you want George Bush to be president again?' question," he said. "But it's not the case if you say, 'Do you want Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani to be president?'"

A Newsweek poll released this weekend found only 28 percent approving of how Bush is handling his job, his worst-ever rating from that survey and its lowest since President Carter got the same dismal figure in 1979.

For now, Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, remains atop his GOP presidential rivals while New York Sen. Clinton leads the Democratic field. But with few voters focusing yet on those races and a long way to go, their standings are vulnerable and may be eroding already.

Early polls are important, not as predictors of who will prevail but because strong showings make it easier for candidates to attract contributors, campaign supporters and media coverage.

"Voters are still going through the sorting out process," said Geoffrey Garin, a Democratic pollster not aligned with any candidate. "The opinions voters express are not at all inconsequential, but neither are they necessarily very permanent."

For months, Clinton has enjoyed a healthy lead over her closest competitor, Obama, the Illinois senator, leading him in some polls by 2-to-1 margins or more.