The Dems and the White House

With such a big lead in public opinion over the Republican party in general, why are the Democratic candidates not performing better in the polls against a nutcase like Giuliani? With the Democratic front-runner, it's a question of trust:

By 50% to 35%, the poll shows, Americans prefer that a Democrat gets elected to succeed Mr. Bush next November. In a direct matchup of leading candidates, however, that margin shrinks to 46% for Mrs. Clinton and 45% for Mr. Giuliani because of defections from voters like Linda Dunbar.

"I just don't totally trust her," said the 57-year-old homemaker from the Cleveland suburb of Seven Hills.