(Week of 4/21/2012) Republican voters have opinions when it comes to finding a running mate for presumptive nominee Mitt Romney, and in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll Florida Senator Marco Rubio and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appear to have the early lead.
The Senator, mentioned frequently as a vice presidential choice (though he has claimed he will not be the nominee), campaigned with Romney Monday, and gets the votes of 20% of GOP voters. But so does Secretary Rice. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who just exited the presidential race, is the choice of 17%. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who himself once led in some presidential preference polls, receives 14%. 9% of GOP voters support Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan and another 7% support Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
Rubio leads with older voters and self-described conservatives. Surprisingly, Rice runs better with men than with women.
One prominent name that does not score all that well as a vice presidential choice is the 2008 GOP nominee for that office, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Just 4% of GOP voters list her as their first choice for a vice-presidential nominee in 2012. However, she does better with women than with men.
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here
Photo source: Press Association
