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I’m trying to understand how Giuliani can be at 27% when we hear so little from him.

My estimate is that around 25-30% of all actual voters haven't a single clue about any issues, but vote on name recognition, appearances, etc.

Another big chuck are superficially aware of an issue or two, and believe what they're told about that issue on the news. Those votes are controlled by the MSM.

Finally, there is the remaining group of voters who are involved, aware and vote based on their best understanding of which candidate best matches--more or less--their own beliefs.

“My estimate is that around 25-30% of all actual voters haven’t a single clue about any issues, but vote on name recognition, appearances, etc.

Another big chuck are superficially aware of an issue or two, and believe what they’re told about that issue on the news. Those votes are controlled by the MSM.

Finally, there is the remaining group of voters who are involved, aware and vote based on their best understanding of which candidate best matches—more or less—their own beliefs.”

I think that you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Name recognition is a huge factor in politics regardless of a candidate’s stand on issues. Many voters like to go with the known quantity. 9.11 made Giuliani famous nationwide.
However only the most highly motivated and partisan voters tend to go to the polls in primaries, so we shall see. The most knowledgeable of the electorate decide the nominees and in Iowa and New Hampshire, they have had those candidates in their homes and restaurants.

Election 2008 Latest Polls

Wednesday, October 10
Race	Poll	Period	Results	Spread
Michigan Republican Primary	Strategic Vision (R)	10/05 - 10/07	Romney 20, Giuliani 24, Thompson 15, McCain 10	Giuliani +4.0%
Michigan Democratic Primary	Strategic Vision (R)	10/05 - 10/07	Clinton 42, Obama 26, Edwards 10, Richardson 7	Clinton +16.0%
Democratic Presidential Nomination	Gallup	10/04 - 10/07	Clinton 47, Obama 26, Edwards 11, Richardson 4	Clinton +21.0%
Democratic Presidential Nomination	AP-Ipsos	10/01 - 10/03	Clinton 46, Obama 25, Edwards 11, Richardson 3	Clinton +21.0%
Republican Presidential Nomination	AP-Ipsos	10/01 - 10/03	Giuliani 27, Thompson 23, McCain 13, Romney 11	Giuliani +4.0%
Florida Republican Primary	Quinnipiac	10/01 - 10/08	Giuliani 27, Thompson 19, Romney 17, McCain 8	Giuliani +8.0%
Florida Democratic Primary	Quinnipiac	10/01 - 10/08	Clinton 51, Obama 17, Edwards 10	Clinton +34.0%
Ohio Republican Primary	Quinnipiac	10/01 - 10/08	Giuliani 29, Thompson 17, McCain 10, Romney 8	Giuliani +12.0%
Ohio Democratic Primary	Quinnipiac	10/01 - 10/08	Clinton 47, Obama 19, Edwards 11, Richardson 1	Clinton +28.0%
Pennsylvania Republican Primary	Quinnipiac	10/01 - 10/08	Giuliani 32, McCain 13, Thompson 13, Romney 8	Giuliani +19.0%
Pennsylvania Democratic Primary	Quinnipiac	10/01 - 10/08	Clinton 41, Obama 14, Edwards 11	Clinton +27.0%

Tuesday, October 09
Race	Poll	Period	Results	Spread
Republican Presidential Nomination	Gallup	10/04 - 10/07	Giuliani 32, Thompson 20, McCain 16, Romney 9	Giuliani +12.0%

Monday, October 08
Race	Poll	Period	Results	Spread
Democratic Presidential Nomination	Rasmussen	10/03 - 10/07	Clinton 42, Obama 26, Edwards 12, Richardson 4	Clinton +16.0%
Republican Presidential Nomination	Rasmussen	10/03 - 10/07	Giuliani 25, Thompson 23, McCain 9, Romney 14	Giuliani +2.0%
North Carolina Democratic Primary	Public Policy Polling	10/03 - 10/03	Clinton 32, Obama 20, Edwards 31	Clinton +1.0%
North Carolina Republican Primary	Public Policy Polling	10/03 - 10/03	Thompson 31, Giuliani 20, McCain 11, Romney 11	Thompson +11.0%

Sunday, October 07
Race	Poll	Period	Results	Spread
General Election: McCain vs. Edwards	Rasmussen	10/03 - 10/04	McCain (R) 40, Edwards (D) 47, Und 13	Edwards +7.0%
General Election: Romney vs. Edwards	Rasmussen	10/03 - 10/04	Romney (R) 35, Edwards (D) 52, Und 13	Edwards +17.0%
Iowa Republican Caucus	Des Moines Register	10/01 - 10/03	Romney 29, Giuliani 11, Thompson 18, Huckabee 12	Romney +11.0%
Iowa Democratic Caucus	Des Moines Register	10/01 - 10/03	Clinton 29, Obama 22, Edwards 23, Richardson 8	Clinton +6.0%

Friday, October 05
Race	Poll	Period	Results	Spread
New Hampshire Republican Primary	Insider Advantage	10/02 - 10/02	Romney 28, Giuliani 20, McCain 17, Thompson 8	Romney +8.0%
Florida Republican Primary	Insider Advantage	10/02 - 10/02	Giuliani 29, Thompson 19, Romney 16, McCain 10	Giuliani +10.0%
Michigan Republican Primary	Insider Advantage	10/02 - 10/02	Romney 16, Giuliani 19, Thompson 14, McCain 15	Giuliani +3.0%
Iowa Republican Caucus	Insider Advantage	10/02 - 10/02	Romney 24, Giuliani 16, Thompson 13, Huckabee 13	Romney +8.0%
South Carolina Republican Primary	Insider Advantage	10/02 - 10/02	Giuliani 16, Thompson 21, Romney 16, McCain 16	Thompson +5.0%
General Election: Giuliani vs. Obama	Rasmussen	10/01 - 10/02	Giuliani (R) 42, Obama (D) 47, Und 11	Obama +5.0%
General Election: Thompson vs. Obama	Rasmussen	10/01 - 10/02	Thompson (R) 38, Obama (D) 49, Und 13	Obama +11.0%
Pennsylvania Republican Primary	Strategic Vision (R)	09/28 - 09/30	Giuliani 45, McCain 8, Thompson 15, Romney 7	Giuliani +30.0%
Pennsylvania Democratic Primary	Strategic Vision (R)	09/28 - 09/30	Clinton 42, Obama 24, Edwards 9	Clinton +18.0%
New Jersey Republican Primary	Strategic Vision (R)	09/28 - 09/30	Giuliani 53, Thompson 11, McCain 7, Romney 7	Giuliani +42.0%
New Jersey Democratic Primary	Strategic Vision (R)	09/28 - 09/30	Clinton 52, Obama 21, Edwards 7	Clinton +31.0%

Historically, primary voters are actually very informed. That’s why predictions on whom will win is inaccurate at times. Such as the Dean fiasco.

Although when you think of that, you wonder why the dems voted for Kerry!?