Polls & Research

Republicans 2008: Giuliani 34%, McCain 16%

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Rudy Giuliani is holding on to the lead as the preferred presidential hopeful for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary, up two points since June.

Arizona senator John McCain is second with 16 per cent, followed by actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson with 14 per cent, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with eight per cent, and former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich with seven per cent. Support is lower for former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, California congressman Duncan Hunter, Texas congressman Ron Paul, Kansas senator Sam Brownback, and Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo.

On Jul. 23, Gingrich dismissed the current field of GOP presidential hopefuls as a "pathetic" bunch of "pygmies," adding, "If, in mid-October, it's quite clear that one or more of the current candidates is strong enough to be a serious alternative to a Clinton-Obama ticket, you don't need me to run."

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican George W. 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

If the 2008 Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, and the candidates were (the following), for whom would you vote?
(Republicans and Republican leaners)