August 21, 2006

Abstract: - Adults in the United States place three Republican politicians as their top choices for the next presidential nomination, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and Press. 26 per cent of respondents would vote like Arizona senator John McCain to be the next presidential candidate.

- Adults in the United States place three Republican politicians as their top choices for the next presidential nomination, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and Press. 26 per cent of respondents would vote like Arizona senator John McCain to be the next presidential candidate.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is a close second with 24 per cent, followed by current state secretary Condoleezza Rice with 18 per cent. Support is lower for former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich, Virginia senator George Allen, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Tennessee senator Bill Frist, and Kansas senator Sam Brownback.

In 2000, McCain won seven GOP presidential primaries in the United States, 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. Last month. Giuliani's political action committee, Solutions America, reported total contributions of $1.49 million U.S. for June.

Rice previously served as Bush's national security advisor. In October 2005, she appeared to rule out a presidential bid, saying, "It's not what I want to do with my life, it's not what I'm going to do with my life."

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

Now I am going to read you the names of some possible candidates for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. After I read all the names, please tell me which one you would most like to see nominated as the Republican Party's candidate for president?

John McCain	26%
Rudy Giuliani	24%
Condoleezza Rice	18%
Newt Gingrich	5%
George Allen	3%
Mitt Romney	3%
Bill Frist	2%
Sam Brownback	1%
Other	1%
None	13%
Don't know	4%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,219 registered American voters, conducted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 13, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.