January 24, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Rudy Giuliani remains the most popular presidential hopeful for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 34 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Rudy Giuliani remains the most popular presidential hopeful for Republican Party supporters in the United States, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 34 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor in a 2008 primary.

Arizona senator John McCain is second with 27 per cent, followed by former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with nine per cent each.

Support is lower for former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Kansas senator Sam Brownback, Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore, and Texas congressman Ron Paul.

On Jan. 21, Gingrich acknowledged that his presidential run would happen as a "last resort", adding, "I believe that, as a citizen, that if I can provide solutions, if I can develop new ideas—and we're going to share these with all the candidates in both parties. If we can (...) develop an entire generation of new ideas on health care, on energy, on education, on national security, on immigration, that I've served as a citizen in a very effective way. If, in that process, it becomes necessary to run, then I'll run."

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 2008 Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, and the candidates were: Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Hagel, Tommy Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, George Pataki, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Jim Gilmore, or Ron Paul, for whom would you vote?
(Republicans and Republican leaners)

	Jan. 2007	Nov. 2006
Rudy Giuliani	34%	34%
John McCain	27%	26%
Mitt Romney	9%	5%
Newt Gingrich	9%	12%
George Pataki	2%	3%
Tommy Thompson	1%	2%
Mike Huckabee	1%	*
Sam Brownback	1%	1%
Tom Tancredo	1%	*
Jim Gilmore	1%	n.a.,
Ron Paul	1%	n.a.
Chuck Hagel	*	*
Duncan Hunter	*	1%
Other	*	*
None of these	2%	6%
Would not vote	1%	*
No opinion	9%	9%

Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from Jan. 16 to Jan. 19, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.