Thread: Four in 10 Republicans Would Not Find McCain an "Accept

July 19, 2006
Four in 10 Republicans Would Not Find McCain an "Acceptable" Nominee
Clinton, Edwards, Gore most acceptable possible Democratic nominees

by Jeffrey M. Jones

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A recent Gallup Panel poll asked Republicans and Democrats whether they would find each of several possible contenders for their party's 2008 presidential nomination to be "acceptable" nominees. Unlike other nomination ballot questions that measure respondents' first choice from among a list of possible candidates, this question paints a broader picture of the level of potential support and opposition for each candidate.

Hillary Clinton is the clear front-runner among Democrats when voters are asked to choose which one candidate they would prefer for the Democratic nomination for president, but the current poll finds Democrats are about equally likely to rate Clinton, John Edwards, and Al Gore as acceptable nominees. Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain typically vie for the lead in Republican preference polls, but a greater percentage of Republicans say they would find Giuliani acceptable than say this about McCain (73% to 55%). Four in 10 Republicans say they would not find McCain to be an acceptable GOP presidential nominee. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also widely considered by Republicans to be an acceptable nominee.

Gallup's June 26-29 poll tested Democrats' (and Democrat-leaning independents') reactions to 13 potential candidates and Republicans' (and Republican leaning independents') reactions to 12 potential candidates. While none of the politicians evaluated in the poll have officially announced their candidacies for president, many have laid the groundwork for a run by visiting early primary and caucus states like Iowa or New Hampshire or by setting up political action committees to raise money for themselves and other candidates. Others have been talked about as potential candidates, even though some (like Rice and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush) have stated they do not intend to run.

In general, very few of either party's candidates are rated acceptable by a majority of the party rank-and-file. For some candidates, this is because they are not yet well known and many respondents cannot evaluate them. At the same time, there are several other potential candidates who are better known but are already rated as "unacceptable" by a majority of their party.

While this approach gives a good sense of where the candidates currently stand, it is important to emphasize that these opinions can change once candidacies are officially announced and campaigning begins in earnest. Even if candidates are found "unacceptable" by a majority of their party's supporters now, that doesn't mean their candidacies are necessarily doomed. What it does indicate is that they are obviously starting off in a relatively weak position.

Republicans

Only three candidates would be acceptable to a majority of Republicans -- Giuliani (73%), Rice (68%), and McCain (55%).

Read more at http://poll.gallup.com/content/?ci=23764

I wonder if John McCain knows why so many Republicans hate him?

Should we explain it to him?

W

I use to like him. Thought he would make a good president.
I sent him an email and told him so. I also told him that now I wouldn't waste a vote on him!

I can't say that Giuliani or Rice float my boat either.

Let's hope that this isn't the final candidate list.

Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain typically vie for the lead in Republican preference polls, but a greater percentage of Republicans say they would find Giuliani acceptable than say this about McCain (73% to 55%).

As illegal immigrant supporters, McCain and Giuliani, would be very, very, very bad for our cause. We need another candidate to rise from the dung heap in Washington and stand with the majority of America on the illegal immigrant issue.

Uh,would that be Tom Tancrado?YES YES YES!

Originally Posted by nittygritty

Uh,would that be Tom Tancrado?YES YES YES!

And Jeff Sessions with him.

Uh,would that be Tom Tancrado?YES YES YES!

Tom gets my vote.

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

I wonder if John McCain knows why so many Republicans hate him?

Should we explain it to him?

W

Why bother?

He has a head that's thicker than granite, and whatever residual brain cells are in there obviously aren't working too well.

You'd have better luck trying to dialogue with a German Shepherd.