Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- 2008: The U.S. Electoral College
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
- Death Penalty
- Economy and Globalization
- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
- Global Warming
- Gordon Brown
- Hamas
- Immigration
- Iran
- Iraq War
- Kevin Rudd
- Latin America
- New Zealand Election 2008
- Nicolas Sarkozy
- North Korea
- Oil and Gas
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Silvio Berlusconi
- Stem Cell Research
- Stephen Harper
- Terrorism
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Democrats
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Republicans
- U.S. Election 2008: The Primaries
- Vladimir Putin
- Yasuo Fukuda
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Giuliani, McCain Top 2008 Choices for Republicans
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Republican Party supporters in the United States place two politicians as their favourites for the 2008 presidential election, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 29 per cent of respondents would vote for former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in a primary, while 24 per cent would support Arizona senator John McCain.
Former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich is third with eight per cent, followed by Tennessee senator Bill Frist and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with six per cent each, and Virginia senator George Allen with five per cent. Support is lower for Kansas senator Sam Brownback, Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee 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, Giuliani criticized the Department of Homeland Security's decision to reduce New York City's anti-terrorism funding, declaring, "You have to assume we are a big target, because terrorists want to hit a big target and kill a lot of people with spectacular effect."
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
Support for potential 2008 Republican presidential nominees, among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who are registered to vote.
Jun. 2006 | Feb. 2006 | Dec. 2005 | |
Rudy Giuliani | 29% | 33% | 30% |
John McCain | 24% | 28% | 22% |
Newt Gingrich | 8% | -- | -- |
Bill Frist | 6% | 6% | 2% |
Mitt Romney | 6% | 3% | 3% |
George Allen | 5% | 7% | 7% |
Sam Brownback | 2% | 1% | -- |
Mike Huckabee | 2% | -- | -- |
George Pataki | 1% | -- | -- |
Condoleezza Rice | -- | 1% | 17% |
Other | 3% | 3% | 3% |
None | 4% | 6% | 3% |
No opinion | 9% | 12% | 10% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 419 Republicans and Republican leaders, Jun. 1 to Jun. 4, 2006. Margin of error is 5 per cent.