On February 5, 2008, twenty states will hold Republican Presidential primaries in what some pundits are called Super-Duper Tuesday.
On that date 1058 delegates, representing 42% of the total delegates that will attend the 2008 GOP Convention and 84% of the 1,259 delegate simple majority required to win will be chosen. Therefore, it’s entirely probable that, by the time voting is over on February 5th the Republican field will be narrowed down to two candidates who will spending the remaining three months of the primary season battling it out for the nomination. In fact, it’s entirely likely that, by February 6th, there will be one candidate who is so far in the lead that most of the remaining primaries will be merely a formality.
So, the question is, how are the candidates faring in the Super Tuesday states:
In states holding Primaries or Caucuses on February 5, the races for the Republican and Democratic Presidential nominations look broadly similar to the competition on a national level.
In the race for the Republican Presidential nomination, Rudy Giuliani attracts 27% in the February 5 states and holds a double digit lead. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thomson and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee are tied for second with 14% support. Arizona Senator John McCain is close behind at 11% while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney earns the vote from 10% of Likely Primary Voters in these states. Texas Congressman Ron Paul is supported by 4%.
Obviously, each state is it’s own race and some are more important than others, but what these results make clear is that Republicans still have not settled on the candidate who will be the primary challenger to the presumed frontrunner.
