(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Rudy Giuliani remains the top contender in the race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 27 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary.

Actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson is second with 17 per cent, followed by former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 14 per cent, Arizona senator John McCain with 13 per cent, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee with six per cent. Support is lower for Texas congressman Ron Paul, California congressman Duncan Hunter, and Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo.

Yesterday, McCain discussed his health care proposals, saying, "The employer tax deduction stays in place so the employer still has the incentive to provide health insurance to the employee, but the employee now loses the health tax incentive and it is replaced by the refundable tax credit. (...) I don’t think that there should be a mandate for every American to have health insurance."

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.

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If the 2008 Republican primary for president were being held today, and the candidates were (the following), for whom would you vote?

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