John McCain,  President 2008,  Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Gallup Poll Part II

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The Gallup Poll: Giuliani, McCain Have Competing Strengths in Republicans’ Eyes

McCain’s strengths lie in foreign policy, ethics, and moral values; Giuliani’s on domestic issues and leadership

A recent Gallup Panel poll shows Rudy Giuliani and John McCain the clear frontrunners among the Republican Party’s 2008 presidential hopefuls. In the most recent test of rank-and-file Republicans’ presidential nomination preferences, 31% said they would be most likely to support Giuliani and 27% said McCain. When asked to choose between the two, however, Republicans show a slight preference for Giuliani at 50% to 42%, respectively.

The latest poll sought to explore Republicans’ views of Giuliani and McCain in more depth, asking them to choose which candidate better exemplified certain personality or political characteristics as well as say who would be better able to handle specific issues.

Candidates on the Issues Poll:

The poll also asked Republicans to indicate which of the two potential candidates would do the better job on a series of 10 issues.

Giuliani has an advantage on six of the issues tested and McCain has an advantage on four. Giuliani’s strengths are primarily in the area of domestic issues while McCain leads on most international matters.

Republicans’ Ratings of Giuliani and McCain on Issues
Issue Giuliani % McCain% Advantage
Crime 78 17 G +61
The economy 52 38 G +14
Terrorism 53 41 G +12
Taxes 49 37 G +12
Education 48 38 G +10
Healthcare 47 39 G +8
Energy and the environment 43 44 M +1
The situation in Iraq 40 53 M +13
Relations with other countries 37 54 M +17
Moral values issues 30 58 M +28

The Summary:

Giuliani’s biggest advantage is on crime, for which 78% of Republicans view him as better compared with 17% who say McCain is. Giuliani, a federal prosecutor prior to being elected mayor of New York City, made crime prevention a focus during his administration and crime rates in the city did fall during his tenure.

Giuliani is also viewed as better than McCain on the economy (52% to 38%), education (48% to 38%), healthcare (47% to 39%), and taxes (49% to 37%). The candidates are rated about equally on the environment and energy with 44% saying McCain would do a better job and 43% Giuliani.

McCain, who has long supported an increased U.S. military presence in Iraq, is viewed by Republicans as better to handle the situation in Iraq by a 53% to 40% margin over Giuliani. (Giuliani has supported recent calls for a troop increase in Iraq.) Republicans also give McCain a 54% to 37% edge on handling “relations with other countries.”

One international issue in Giuliani’s favor is terrorism, on which he has a 53% to 41% edge over McCain. Giuliani’s widely praised response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks while serving as mayor of New York City is the likely reason for this — and is enough to overcome the perhaps more general sense that McCain is better on international matters.

McCain’s biggest issue advantage is not on an international issue, but on moral values. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans believe he would do the better job on this issue while 30% believe Giuliani would. Giuliani’s past positions in favor of abortion and gay rights are generally out of step with the views of most rank-and-file Republicans while McCain’s positions have generally been in keeping with the Republican platform.

Republicans’ relative ratings of the candidates on the issues do not vary much by their religious commitment or self-described political ideology.

And what do the polls show us for the campaign ahead:

The poll provides insight into where the candidates stand among the party before campaigning kicks off in earnest — while both McCain and Giuliani have formed presidential candidate exploratory committees, neither has officially announced his candidacy. McCain would do well to emphasize his experience and foreign policy credentials while reminding Republican voters of his traditional views on moral values. Meanwhile, Giuliani apparently would be well-served to remind the voters of his leadership of New York following the Sept. 11 crisis and attempt to capitalize on his more favorable public image.

Flap can guarantee that each of these candidates will be running focus groups now and every week to fine tune their message.

Compare this initial poll with subsequent ones as the campaign heats up.

Each candidate has his pluses and minuses.  It is the emphasis of positive characteristics and issues, national/world events, and how the candidates are presented which will determine the next President of the United States.

Stay tuned……

Previous:

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Gallup Poll Part I

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani LEADS in Latest Rasmussen GOP Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest New Hampshire Survey USA Poll

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Los Angeles Times Hits Rudy’s “Prickly Style”

Giuliani Notes: Dollars for Rudy

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Who Has the Vision and Who Can Perform?

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Scouting New Hampshire at Littleton Chamber of Commerce

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Bush Iraq Plan Should Be Given A Chance

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Paul Cellucci, Former Massachusetts Governor Endorses Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani Watch:Giuliani 30% Leads McCain 22% and Romney 10%

Rudy Giuliani Watch: Latest Time Magazine Poll Has McCain Leading Giuliani by 4 Points

Rudy Giuliani Watch: What Does a Mayor Know About Iraq?

The Rudy Giuliani Files


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