- Rudy Giuliani remains the most popular presidential contender for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 24 per cent of respondents would vote for the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary.

Current U.S. state secretary Condoleezza Rice is second with 18 per cent, followed by Arizona senator John McCain is second with 17 per cent, and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with nine per cent.

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. Rice has said she has no intention of becoming a presidential candidate.

On Nov. 7, Giuliani commented on the possibility of Democratic California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi becoming speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, saying, "It clearly means a tremendous amount of pressure coming out of the House then to go back on defence against terrorism. I think it means a real, real, real push for a pre-September 11 mentality. You know, these are people who oppose the extension of the Patriot Act."

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

Voting intention - 2008 U.S. Republican presidential primary

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