(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The exit of two prospective candidates appears to have helped Rudy Giuliani’s bid to become the Republican Party’s United States presidential nominee in 2008, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 32 per cent of respondents would vote for the former New York City mayor in a primary, up five points since June.

Actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson is second with 15 per cent, followed by Arizona senator John McCain with 13 per cent, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 11 per cent. Support is lower for former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, California congressman Duncan Hunter, Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo, and Texas congressman Ron Paul.

On Oct. 24, Tancredo issued a challenge to Romney, saying he would be willing to drop out of the presidential race if the Colorado Rockies do not win Major League Baseball’s World Series, but urging Romney to abandon his bid if the Boston Red Sox lose. Romney spokesman Kevin Madden declined the offer, saying, "The governor is in the race to win the race."

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.

Polling Data

If the Republican primary or caucus for president were being held in your state today and the candidates were (the following), for whom would you vote?

Source: Bloomberg / Los Angeles Times
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 364 Republican primary voters, conducted from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, 2007. Margin of error is 5 per cent.

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