(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani are virtually even in South Carolina, according to a poll by Clemson University. 19 per cent of Republican Party supporters in the Palmetto State would vote for the actor and former Tennesee senator in next year’s United States presidential primary, while 18 per cent would back the former New York City mayor.

Arizona senator John McCain is third with 15 per cent, followed by former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 11 per cent. Support is lower for former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and Texas congressman Ron Paul.

In the sample of Democratic Party supporters, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is first with 26 per cent, followed by Illinois senator Barack Obama with 16 per cent, and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 10 per cent. Support is lower for former U.S. vice-president Al Gore, Delaware senator Joe Biden, and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson.

The Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 29, 2008, after the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. The Republican contest in the Palmetto State is expected to take place on Jan. 19.

In 2004, Edwards won the Democratic South Carolina primary with 45 per cent of the vote, followed by Massachusetts senator John Kerry with 30 per cent, reverend Al Sharpton with 10 per cent, retired general Wesley Clark with seven per cent, former Vermont governor Howard Dean with five per cent, and Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman with two per cent. Incumbent president George W. Bush won the Republican convention unopposed.

Bush is ineligible for a third term in office. The next U.S. presidential election is scheduled for November 2008.

Polling Data

If the 2008 primary election in South Carolina were held today, for whom would you vote?

Republican Party

If the 2008 primary election in South Carolina were held today, for whom would you vote?

Democratic Party

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