(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - One-in-four Republican Party supporters in the United States want Mike Huckabee to become their presidential nominee this year, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 25 per cent of respondents would back the former Arkansas governor in a primary.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is second with 20 per cent, followed by Arizona senator John McCain with 19 per cent, actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson with 12 per cent, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with nine per cent. Support is lower for Texas congressman Ron Paul, and California congressman Duncan Hunter.

On Jan. 7, Huckabee appeared to criticize Romney, saying, "Ask him when was the last time he used a firearm and would he know how to clean it if somebody handed it to him. (...) If we lose our second amendment rights then we stand in danger of losing our first amendment rights. The second amendment is not about hunting."

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.

Polling Data

Next, I’m going to read a list of people who may be running in the Republican primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president in the year 2008, or if you would support someone else.

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 399 Republicans and Republican leaners, conducted from Jan. 4 to Jan. 6, 2008. Margin of error is 5 per cent.

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