While Sarah Palin may be the best-known and the most written about Republican, there are other possible nominees more highly though of by Republicans. In the latest Economist/YouGov Poll, Republicans view both former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as more likely than Palin to defeat President Obama. And more Republicans say those two have the ability to be effective Presidents than think that about Palin.
Consider each of the following people. As the Republican nominee for president in 2012, do you think he or she would beat Barack Obama in the presidential election? Asked of Republicans.
| Yes | No | Not sure | |
|---|---|---|---|
Mitt Romney | 64% | 21% | 12% |
Rudy Giuliani | 50% | 29% | 21% |
Sarah Palin | 40% | 47% | 12% |
Do you think the following people would have the ability to be an effective president? Asked of Republicans.
| Yes | No | Not sure | |
|---|---|---|---|
Mitt Romney | 67% | 12% | 21% |
Rudy Giuliani | 67% | 11% | 21% |
Sarah Palin | 50% | 27% | 23% |
Do the following people represent the views of most Republicans? Asked of Republicans.
| Yes | No | Not sure | |
|---|---|---|---|
Mitt Romney | 62% | 11% | 28% |
Rudy Giuliani | 55% | 14% | 30% |
Sarah Palin | 60% | 17% | 22% |
62% of Republicans say Romney agrees with them on the issues, just about as many as say that about Palin. 55% say Giuliani does. Two out of three think both Romney and Giuliani would be effective Presidents. However, more believe Romney could defeat Obama than think that about the former New York City Mayor.
More than half of Republicans expect they will lose if Newt Gingrich or Ron Paul becomes the nominee.
Romney and Giuliani stand out in a field of sometimes unknown and sometimes not well-liked potential Republican candidates. Only about a third of Republicans (and in some cases even fewer) think other candidates could win against Obama. In the cases of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, more than half of Republicans expect they would lose in 2012 if either became the nominee.
Republicans think — or at least hope — their nominee might beat the President. 70% say they are at least somewhat confident the party will nominate someone with a strong chance of winning in 2012. But only 30% are very confident of that.
And the field has yet to generate a lot of enthusiasm. 54% of Republicans say they are enthusiastic about at least one of the possible nominees; but nearly half are not.
