Posted on 02/01/2007 8:06:02 PM PST by Dark Skies
Rudy Giuliani is holding on to the top spot among Republican Party sympathizers in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 29 per cent of respondents would support the former New York City mayor in a 2008 presidential primary.
Arizona senator John McCain is second with 19 per cent, followed by former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich with 16 per cent, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with eight per cent. Support is lower for former Kansas senator Sam Brownback, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel.
On Jan. 29, Romney expressed his support for U.S. president George W. Bush’s recent decision to increase the number of troops in Iraq—without leaving his usually critic stance—saying, "I’m glad we’re seeing a change in strategy. I’m glad we’re adding to the mission of our military the protection of the safety of citizens in and around Baghdad. I don’t know how you could rebuild a country and an economy if your capital city is literally all covered by what we call a red zone. You know you’ve failed if you have a red zone. The conduct of our policy in Iraq has been fraught with a number of mistakes."
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican 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
Republican Presidential Primary Contenders
|
Jan. 25 |
Jan. 18 |
Jan. 11 |
|
|
Rudy Giuliani |
29% |
30% |
28% |
|
John McCain |
19% |
22% |
20% |
|
Newt Gingrich |
16% |
12% |
14% |
|
Mitt Romney |
8% |
10% |
8% |
|
Sam Brownback |
3% |
-- |
-- |
|
Mike Huckabee |
1% |
2% |
-- |
|
Chuck Hagel |
1% |
1% |
-- |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 579 likely Republican voters, conducted from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
That's what I am thinking as well. Newt knows full well if he was going to get in the race he would have to do it right now because the money will dry up and he would not have enough time to campaign like you have to do during the year.
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