FRED VETS, SIGN UP TODAY AT:
Posted on 09/20/2007 2:41:32 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
After officially declaring his candidacy, U.S. Senator Fred Thompson moves ahead of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. One-third (32%) of those who say they will vote in a Republican primary or caucus will vote for Thompson while 28 percent will vote for Giuliani. Much further back is John McCain, who continues his downward slide with 11 percent saying they would vote for the Arizona Senator, and 9 percent who say they would vote for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
On the Democratic side, Senator Hillary Clinton continues to build on her large lead. Just under half (46%) of those who would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus would vote for the former First Lady while one-quarter (25%) would vote for Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Former vice president candidate and North Carolina Senator John Edwards is further back with 14 percent saying they would vote for him. No other candidate is in double digits.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,372 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive® between September 6 and 14, 2007. This survey included 769 adults who expect to vote in a Democratic primary or caucus and 504 adults who expect to vote in a Republican primary or caucus. Like all polls conducted well before an election, this should not be read as a prediction. Rather, it is a snap shot of the presidential “horse race”, at an early stage in the race.
Votes by Generation
One interesting difference is the support of the different generations. On the Democratic side, Senator Obama does better than Senator Clinton among Echo Boomers (those aged 18 to 29). While 42 percent of this youngest generation will vote for him, 37 percent will vote for her. However, in the age group that is most likely to actually vote, Matures (those 61 and older), Senator Clinton leads Senator Obama by a very wide margin (56% versus 16%). In fact, one in five Matures (21%) will vote for John Edwards, so he is ahead of Senator Obama as well in this key age group.
On the Republican side a similar difference occurs. One-third (33%) of both Echo Boomers and Generation Xers (30 to 41) will vote for Rudy Giuliani while Fred Thompson garners just 8 percent and 22 percent of these generations respectively. But, again among those generations more likely to vote, Fred Thompson is ahead. It is close among Baby Boomers (those aged 42 to 60) as one-third (33%) of this generation will vote for Giuliani and 37 percent will vote for Thompson. Among Matures, the lead is greater – 44 percent will vote for Thompson and 16 percent will vote for Giuliani. Interestingly, one in five (20%) of the youngest generation, Echo Boomers, say they will vote for the oldest candidate, John McCain.
Consideration
Before being asked to pick their first choice in the primary elections, all adults surveyed were also shown a list of all the main candidates in both parties and some other well-known Republicans and Democrats, and asked which of them they would consider voting for. They could name as many people, in both parties, as they wished. On the Democratic side, three-quarters of Democrats (76%) would consider Hillary Clinton while over half (58%) would consider Barack Obama and just under half (48%) would consider Al Gore. Among Independents, it’s a tie as 35 percent would consider Hillary Clinton and 34 percent would consider Barack Obama.
On the Republican side, just over half (52%) of Republicans would consider Rudy Giuliani and just under half (46%) would consider Fred Thompson. The next two Republicans are not even candidates as 39 percent of Republicans would consider former Secretary of State Colin Powell and 34 percent would consider current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Among Independents, 28 percent would each consider Rudy Giuliani and Colin Powell while one-quarter (23%) would consider John McCain and 20 percent Fred Thompson. Overall, more would consider a Democratic candidate over a Republican candidate but the gap has narrowed. In May, 71 percent would consider one of the Democratic candidates while 58 percent would consider one of the Republicans – a gap of 13 percent. Over the summer this has narrowed and today the gap is just six points – 66 percent would consider a Democratic leader and 60 percent would consider a Republican leader.
So What?
Now that Fred Thompson has ended his “flirtation” with the presidential race, it will be interesting to watch as he participates in debates and is actually campaigning. Does his rise to the top hold or was it pure star power? Time will tell. On the Democratic side, it appears that the race really is Hillary Clinton’s to lose at this point as her ever expanding lead is now at 21 percent. The two running in second place for each party’s nomination currently are tops with the youngest of voters. Barack Obama feels like one of them – his youth and vitality are something they can latch onto and relate to. Rudy Giuliani is one the main figures from the one major national event that has shaped their lives so far – September 11th. They feel drawn to him because of that. But, as both camps are aware, these youngest voters actually vote in the lowest of numbers. Can either campaign translate their popularity into turnout come primary or caucus day?
(See site for actual poll breakdown)
not to mention, he’s DEAD! /s
FRED VETS, SIGN UP TODAY AT:
What! This can’t be! Dick Morris has pronounced Thompson not capable of campaigning effectively and several Freepers have confirmed it.
WOOHOO! My state coming around for Fred.
Good news today!
LOL! A tagline is born...
9 percent who say they would vote for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.Ouch. Single digits for Mitt.
Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticketDon't make me laugh.
Oh boy...."INCOMING"
The DuncanDonuts and DuncanDonettes are gonna be all over ya!
I love Hunter. I like his son even more -— BUT, alas, in politics one “balances” the ticket.
Look for a popular Mid-West RINO to “balance” the ticket, the more Ohio-based, the better.
Preferably one that would be too old in 8 years to run for office.
And note that independents will consider voting for Rudy or Fred, but no one else on the GOP side.***
Funny, McCain leads Fred 23-20 in the indies.
What! This can’t be! Dick Morris has pronounced Thompson not capable of campaigning effectively and several Freepers have confirmed it.******
Seems like most of Fred numbers come from the Geritol generation. They will wake up before the primaries.
Quit spamming this BS. If I see it again, I’m gonna start hitting the abuse button.
Every one that kerry won, and with ease, plus one more and thats the end of the story.
She will pick up that one more with a good choice for VP that will grab a SW state with hispanic appeal.
If Ohio flips, the GOP is probably toast.
And for a very long time.
Fred needs a VP who can make a battlefield out of a contested state and bring those electoral votes to the table.
Go ahead - make my day.
I don't think Fred Thompson can be elected President, and I've posted my reasons why. That's not spam, it's an opinion - and in my nine years and three months here, opinions supported by reasoning have NEVER been considered spam or abuse.
I'm not using this site to promote any candidates that Jim Robinson disapproves of, and I won't.
So go ahead - hit the abuse botton all you want.
Go ahead - make my day.
I don't think Fred Thompson can be elected President, and I've posted my reasons why. That's not spam, it's an opinion - and in my nine years and three months here, opinions supported by reasoning have NEVER been considered spam or abuse.
I'm not using this site to promote any candidates that Jim Robinson disapproves of, and I won't.
So go ahead - hit the abuse button all you want.
I know man Ron Paul will break out any minute now!!!
You left off the fact he is dead, cancer got him several weeks ago and his bimbo Trophy wife can’t figure out how she will survive without any job skills...
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