Polls & Research

McCain First, Giuliani Second in GOP 2008 Race

- John McCain is the most popular prospective presidential nominee for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by McLaughlin & Associates. 28 per cent of respondents would like the Arizona senator to become a candidate.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is second with 22 per cent, followed by current U.S. state secretary Condoleezza Rice with 13 per cent, former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich with five per cent, and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with four per cent.

Support is lower for Virginia senator George Allen, Tennessee senator Bill Frist, New York governor George Pataki, Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Kansas senator Sam Brownback, and Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo.

In 2000, McCain won seven Republican presidential primaries in the U.S., but retired from the race after eventual nominee George W. Bush became the frontrunner. Giuliani garnered national and international attention in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Rice has said she has no intention of becoming a presidential candidate.

On Nov. 12, McCain discussed his plans for the future, saying, "I am going to sit down with my family over the holidays and make that decision. Are we doing the things organizationally and legally that need to be done to prepare for it? Yes. There are certain things legally that you have to comply with in order to continue to raise money and set up an organization."

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

Preference for Republican 2008 presidential nominee: