December 29, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Mike Huckabee in the national race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in the United States increased this month, according to a poll by Knowledge Networks released by the Associated Press and Yahoo. 22 per cent of respondents would back the former Arkansas governor in a primary, up 12 points since November.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Mike Huckabee in the national race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in the United States increased this month, according to a poll by Knowledge Networks released by the Associated Press and Yahoo. 22 per cent of respondents would back the former Arkansas governor in a primary, up 12 points since November.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is a close second with 21 per cent, followed by Arizona senator John McCain with 14 per cent, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 13 per cent, and actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson with 11 per cent. Support is lower for Texas congressman Ron Paul, California congressman Duncan Hunter, and Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo.

Yesterday, Huckabee criticized a series of television spots issued by the Romney campaign in Iowa, saying, "We’ve spent one dollar for every twenty that Mitt Romney has spent in this state. I want you to stop and think about that; 20 to 1 outspent and we’re leading. We’re ahead. And so when people get that far behind having spent that much money they get desperate. Desperate is one thing but dishonest is something else and when you get desperate and dishonest it’s not a very pretty sight."

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 caucuses in your state were being held today and these were the candidates, for whom would you vote?

	Dec. 2007	Nov. 2007
Mike Huckabee	22%	10%
Rudy Giuliani	21%	27%
John McCain	14%	16%
Mitt Romney	13%	13%
Fred Thompson	11%	17%
Ron Paul	3%	3%
Duncan Hunter	2%	1%
Tom Tancredo	1%	--
Don’t know	12%	13%

Source: Knowledge Networks / Associated Press / Yahoo
Methodology: Online interviews with 655 Republicans and Republican leaners, conducted from Dec. 14 to Dec. 20, 2007. Margin of error is 3.8 per cent.