McCain leads at the start

The NH Union Leader ^

[slowhand520]

This better be an outlier. Why is he always in the lead?

THE EARLY FRONT-RUNNER. Two-and-a-half years before the 2008 first-in-the-nation Presidential primary, we have the very first poll numbers. They show 2000 GOP primary victor John McCain still the main man.

The American Research Group's numbers focus on the Republican side, showing the Arizona senator far ahead of the pack with the support of 39 percent of the likely voters in that primary.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich drew 14 percent, followed by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 8 percent and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist at 5 percent, with Virginia Sen. George Allen and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo each at 1 percent. According to the poll, 32 percent of likely voters are undecided.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel and Arkansas Gov. Mark Huckabee registered no support.

ARG polled 600 likely primary votes — 433 registered Republicans and 167 registered independents — Aug. 5-7. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percent.

Among Republicans, McCain drew 37 percent, while 26 percent were undecided, 19 percent favored Gingrich, 9 percent favored Romney, 7 percent favored Frist, and Allen and Tancredo drew 1 percent each.

Among independents, 47 percent were undecided, while McCain drew 45 percent, Romney 6 percent and Gingrich 2 percent.

Why take a poll on the primary so early?

Dick Bennett, ARG's president, said that in the past few weeks, "It's like someone flipped a switch. People are suddenly starting to become interested." And why not have an early benchmark?

Bennett is expected to have a Democratic poll soon.

[G.Mason]

"Think about it. His name recognition must be 100% ... "

Great point!

I only have one thing to say about him ...

McCain

[Dante3]

McCain manages to be creepy and boring at the same time. He is not presidential material, has too much baggage, was too obsessed with CFR, doesn't understand and/or doesn't care about the problems this country faces. He and Kerry remind me of the original Manchurian Candidate.

[Not A Snowbird]

What a meaningless poll. Nobody has even declared yet.

[Kurt_D]

Well, see... nobody is perfect. ;) And I, unlike many people in this forum, don't hate Hillary. Of course that doesn't mean that I would ever vote for her.

[JohnnyZ]

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel and Arkansas Gov. Mark Huckabee

FRENCH Sen. Chuck Hagel and Arkansas Gov. MIKE Huckabee

These people need fact-checkers.

[JohnnyZ]

Adding keywords

PREZPOLL

and

PRESIDENT2008

[RoyalsFan]

I cannot think of too many more people I'd rather NOT see become the republican nominee then Huckabee.

[Bommer]

McCain couldn't win no matter how much Chrissy Matthews Monica's him. Once a traitor always a traitor!

[JohnnyZ]

I'm not crazy about HuckaB but he's one of the more conservative candidates planning to run.

I'm considering Pawlenty, Brownback, Allen.

[Paulus Invictus]

McLame is a loser and should not be chosen. I still like Jeb or Cheney much better.

[ExTexasRedhead]

I've been a Republican since 1967 and I wouldn't vote for McCain on a bet. He's an embarrassment to the Party and to Vietnam POWs.

[jocko12]

At least we now know who the 4 loser will be in 08.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

IgnorantMc Cain is the top runner for Hillary's running mate.
And as for my racial slur my maiden name was "Mc" so just calling as I see it.

[Mogollon]

Liberal pollsters and reporters are obsessed with showing McCain and/or Guliani as really, really, really good candidates for us with their skewed polls.

[jimfrommaine]

I think McCain is praying that the liberals filibuster Roberts. Then he can run to the camera, claimed he did his best to work with moderates on both sides of the aisle. But, he will not stand by as left-wing extremists try to destroy a good man. He'll vote for the constitutional option. Which means Graham and Dewine will also. And this move will guarantee that at least two conservative judges are appointed to the Supreme Court. Giving McCain just enough support from conservatives to be the party's nominee.

[notigar]

That's funny that Bush had an embarrasment campaigning for him last election. I wonder if Bush knew? Oh wait, they were on stage toghether, of course he knew.

[DukeFan4Ever]

My understanding of your message is that supporters of Senator McCain were not "real" Republicans. Am I correct in understanding your statement? If so...I don't believe that you understand the history and the true ideology of the Republican Party. The Republican Party is, and forever truely shall be, a political party that, as Senator Goldwater said, "stays out of your pocketbook and out of your bedroom.". Tell me if you will, a truer Republican than Barry Goldwater. The Republican Party prior to Jerry Falwell kidnapping it stressed the ideals of personal choice, that which the Creator granted us. It was a political party that believed in freedom...freedom from government restrictions. The religious right wing of the Republican Party seeks to administer specific rules and regulations upon the populace they deem important, regardless of ones personal beliefs. Senator McCain is a true Republican in the mold of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Taft, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon. For this, he is MY candidate and I am CERTAIN he will be the nominee of the TRUE Republican Party.

[atlanta67]

for some reason he GOP decided that iss frist three primaries/cauci would be

Iowa
NH
NJ

SC is now 4th.

so it is very likely that a moderate GOP candidate will get off to a huge start come 2008

[daler]

"I like Newt the most."

I'm with you on that, brother.

I have always felt Newt was brilliant, politically and otherwise.

Obviously, so did the left; as they pulled out all the stops in neutering him.

Sadly, he doesn't have an ice cube's chance in hell.

[daler]

You're joking, right?

When extolling the virtues of limited government, I wouldn't point to the co-author of McCain-Feingold as an example of someone who leads the charge.