Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Giuliani, McCain Still Top Republicans in U.S.

November 24, 2006
Abstract: - Rudy Giuliani remains the most popular prospective presidential candidate for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 33 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary, up four points since October.

- Rudy Giuliani remains the most popular prospective presidential candidate for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 33 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary, up four points since October.

Arizona senator John McCain is second with 30 per cent, followed by former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with nine per cent each. Support is lower for Tennessee senator Bill Frist, former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson, Kansas senator Sam Brownback, California congressman Duncan Hunter, and New York governor George Pataki.

Giuliani garnered national and international attention in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 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.

Earlier this month, Romney questioned the priorities of both Giuliani and McCain, saying, "I'm a conservative Republican. There's no question about that. I'm at a different place than the other two. (...) If someone says, like I do, that I oppose same-sex marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous."

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

Please tell me which of the following people you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in 2008.

Nov. 2006

Oct. 2006

Aug. 2006

Rudy Giuliani

33%

29%

32%

John McCain

30%

27%

21%

Newt Gingrich

9%

12%

12%

Mitt Romney

9%

7%

6%

Bill Frist

3%

6%

4%

Tommy Thompson

3%

--

--

Sam Brownback

2%

1%

1%

Duncan Hunter

2%

--

--

George Pataki

1%

5%

3%

Unsure

8%

11%

14%

Source: Opinion Research Corporation / CNN
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 365 Republican American adults, conducted from Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 5 per cent.