Posted on 02/20/2007 6:57:59 AM PST by areafiftyone
For the second straight week, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) holds a fourteen percentage point lead in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. Giuliani attracts support from 33% of Likely Primary Voters while Arizona Senator John McCain is supported by 19%. A week ago, it was Giuliani 32% McCain 18%.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) picked up a few points this week and now is favored by 13%.
Trailing Gingrich is former Massachusetts Mitt Romney (R) at 9%. Senators Sam Brownback (R) and Chuck Hagel (R) each earn 3% support. It is not clear that Gingrich is running. He has said he will not make a decision until at least September.
Recently, Gingrich had nice things to say about Giuliani. Earlier in the process, he had positive words about Mitt Romney.
Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Republican nominating contest every Tuesday. Results for the Democrats are updated on Mondays.
Giuliani remains the most popular of all the Election 2008 hopefuls, but his numbers have dropped a bit recently. Currently, 63% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Mayor, down from 69% in January and 71% in December. In November, his ratings were about the same as they are today.
McCain is viewed favorably by 54%, up a bit from 52% in January but down from 59% in December.
For Gingrich, the latest numbers are 43% favorable and 48% unfavorable.
Other GOP candidates are less well known to the general public.
In General Election match-ups, Giuliani leads against every Democrat including Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards, and former Vice-President Al Gore.
McCain is essentially tied with Clinton, Obama and Edwards.
See a summary of all match-ups along with favorability ratings and perceptions of the candidates’ ideology. A summary is also provided for Democratic contenders.
You just watch as Newt conducts a late term abortion on Rudy's campaign. Rudy's candidacy will move along fine for eight to eight and a half months. It will be viable, lively, and full of health. Then just as he is about to be "delivered" as the Republican Presidential Candidate, Newt will metaphorically suck out his brain and crush his skull. Ironically, in this case the partial birth abortion actually WILL be to save the life of the mother (the Republican Party).
Paul Gramm, who I believe was a big deficit hawk in his day, endorses McCain here:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110009690
I wish Phil Gramm has said why he favors McCain over Giuliani. My main reason for opposing McCain is that I think campaign finance reform was a bad idea and a major blow against freedom of speech. I also think his support for the War on Terrorism is tepid. Alas, Gramm doesn't address those issues, which makes his essay pretty much useless.
Patrick, I agree that it will be interesting to see how this plays out for Rudy in the next two years. Of all the candidates, I would say he has the best record of accomplishment, and I think he has sound opinions on the issues that will be in play. (I think many conservatives care about issues, like abortion and gun control, which a President is unlikely to influence or want to influence).
I'm certainly open to be persuaded but none of the other candidates have particularly impressed me. Of course it's early days yet but Giuliani's reform of New York, during a period when it looked impossible, is excellent preparation for battle with Congress. And his handling of 9/11 was of course superb. Those two things combined make a track record that's very hard to beat.
D
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