January 25, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - John McCain has extended his lead in the national race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 23 per cent of respondents would back the Arizona senator in a primary, up four points since early January.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - John McCain has extended his lead in the national race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 23 per cent of respondents would back the Arizona senator in a primary, up four points since early January.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee are tied for second with 19 per cent, followed by actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson—who has since withdrawn from the race—with 11 per cent, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani with nine per cent, and Texas congressman Ron Paul with three per cent.

After the first six Republican presidential caucuses and primaries have been held, Romney has secured the support of 72 pledged delegates and unpledged members of the Republican National Committee (RNC), followed by McCain with 38, Huckabee with 29, Thompson with eight, Paul with six, and Giuliani with two.

Yesterday, Huckabee criticized Romney, saying, "I would also suggest that one needs to look very carefully at exactly what the business record is. If it’s taking companies that are in serious trouble, buying them when they are in pain, selling off their assets, then making huge profit off of it then that’s not something a lot of Americans can relate to, except those that have lost their jobs because of those kinds of transactions. If that’s the turnaround then there are a lot of Americans who do not want to see their lives turned around like that."

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

Republican Presidential Primary Contenders

	Jan. 20	Jan. 6	Dec. 16
John McCain	23%	19%	11%
Mitt Romney	19%	17%	15%
Mike Huckabee	19%	19%	23%
Fred Thompson	11%	12%	12%
Rudy Giuliani	9%	14%	18%
Ron Paul	3%	5%	6%
Duncan Hunter	n.a.	2%	1%
Tom Tancredo	n.a.	n.a.	2%

Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with approximately 1,100 likely Republican primary voters, conducted from Jan. 14 to Jan. 20, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.