Democrat candidate leads on West Wing

It's Jimmy Smits over Alan Alda in a landslide. Pollster John Zogby, who often asks Americans who they think will be elected president, surveyed viewers of The West Wing, asking which candidate they preferred for the drama's next president - Democrat Matt Santos of Texas, played by Smits, or Republican Senator Arnold Vinick of California, played by Alda.

The second term of Democratic incumbent President Josiah Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, is coming to an end on the show.

Smits' character leads Alda's character 44 per cent to 28 per cent among viewers contacted by computer for the interactive poll.

The poll was conducted from February 18-25, and the results were based on the answers of 5505 American adults nationwide who said they were viewers of the show.