January 08, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States hold a positive view of Rudy Giuliani, according to a poll by CBS News. 41 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the former New York City mayor, and 39 per cent feel the same way about Arizona senator John McCain.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States hold a positive view of Rudy Giuliani, according to a poll by CBS News. 41 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the former New York City mayor, and 39 per cent feel the same way about Arizona senator John McCain.

In a list of six prospective presidential candidates for the Republican Party in the 2008 United States election, Giuliani and McCain are clearly more prominent than the remaining contenders. More than 70 per cent of respondents do not know enough about Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel, Kansas senator Sam Brownback, and California congressman Duncan Hunter to form an opinion.

Giuliani garnered national and international attention in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2000, McCain won seven Republican presidential primaries in the U.S., but retired from the race after eventual nominee George W. Bush became the frontrunner.

On Jan. 4, Romney officially launched his presidential bid, declaring, "After talking to my family, I have decided to take this initial step of forming an exploratory committee in order to raise the resources and build the campaign organization required to pursue the highest office in our country."

In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, 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

I'm going to name some possible presidential candidates and ask what you think of them. If you haven't heard much about someone I name, just tell me. Is your opinion of (candidate) favourable, not favourable, undecided or haven't you heard enough about (candidate) yet to have an opinion?

	Favourable	Unfavourable	Undecided	Not enough
Rudy Giuliani	41%	22%	24%	12%
John McCain	39%	20%	28%	13%
Mitt Romney	5%	10%	14%	71%
Chuck Hagel	4%	5%	9%	82%
Sam Brownback	3%	6%	10%	80%
Duncan Hunter	1%	5%	9%	85%

Source: CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 922 American adults, conducted from Jan. 1 to Jan. 3, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.