WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With the election of the next president a year away, Sen. Hillary Clinton remains the person to beat, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Monday suggests. As the countdown begins to November 4, 2008, the New York Democrat continues to dominate the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and comes out ahead when voters are asked whether they prefer her or the GOP front-runner, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. But Clinton's path to the White House is in no way certain. Clinton was criticized for her performance during a debate last week, and her rivals for the Democratic nomination have stepped up attacks that she has equivocated on her position on Iraq, Iran and other major issues.
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Sen. Clinton supported by 44 percent of Democrats polled, down from October
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Rudy Giuliani continues to lead Republican presidential field with 28 percent
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Clinton beats Giuliani 51 percent to 45 percent, the poll found
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Only 42 percent think things are going well in the U.S., according to the poll
The poll involved 467 interviews conducted on November 2-4 with @placeholder or independents who lean Democratic.
"Only 27 percent of Republicans say they would feel enthusiastic if Giuliani won the @placeholder nod, and the remaining GOP candidates fare even worse," he said.