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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Majority of Americans See McCain Favourably
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States hold positive views on John McCain, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 53 per cent of respondents express a favourable opinion of the Republican Arizona senator.
The survey included the names of eight politicians currently running for president in the U.S. Democratic North Carolina senator John Edwards is second with 49 per cent, followed by two other Democrats: New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton with 48 per cent, and Illinois senator Barack Obama with 43 per cent.
Republican actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson is next with 42 per cent, followed by three fellow GOP members: former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani with 40 per cent, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee also with 40 per cent, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 38 per cent.
As far as unfavourable opinions, Giuliani is first with 55 per cent, followed by Obama and Romney with 51 per cent each, Rodham Clinton with 50 per cent, Huckabee with 47 per cent, Thompson and Edwards with 42 per cent each, and McCain with 27 per cent.
Yesterday, the 71-year-old McCain discussed his age in New Hampshire, saying, "If I said I was running for eight years, I’m not sure that would be a vote getter. My health is good, my campaign schedule is heavier than anybody else’s, and I’ve said many times I can out-campaign anybody. I think the decision as to whether to run for re-election has to do with the circumstances at the time. I really do. You shouldn’t run for eight years. Because then you think you’ve got eight years to get these things done."
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 presidential election is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Original Release from Rasmussen Reports
Polling Data
Favourability Ratings Among Presidential Candidates
|
|
Favourable |
Unfavourable |
|
John McCain (R) |
53% |
27% |
|
John Edwards (D) |
49% |
42% |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) |
48% |
50% |
|
Barack Obama (D) |
43% |
51% |
|
Fred Thompson (R) |
42% |
42% |
|
Rudy Giuliani (R) |
40% |
55% |
|
Mike Huckabee (R) |
40% |
47% |
|
Mitt Romney (R) |
38% |
51% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.