Democrats may be afraid to choose Hillary

ATLANTA, April 9 (UPI) -- Democrats are so intent on winning the White House in 2008 they may be afraid to nominate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., several top pollsters conclude.

Convinced that Clinton is too divisive to win a general election, many Democrats are looking for a candidate with more crossover appeal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday.

Lee Miringoff, who has done more polling on Clinton than any other analyst, said she is clearly the front-runner for the nomination -- but there is concern about her electability, especially in red states, states that went for President George W. Bush in 2004. In Miringoff's latest Marist Poll, Clinton was the choice of 33 percent of Democrats.

The Gallup organization clocked Clinton at 39 percent, but told subscribers she was a "polarizing figure."

GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who just completed focus group research with Democrats in Iowa and New Hampshire, concluded the party will not nominate a candidate it fears will lose to Republicans.