CBS NEWS POLL For release: Friday, June 29, 2007 6:30 P.M. EDT

CAMPAIGN 2008 June 26-28, 2007

Many Americans are looking for even more choices in the race for the presidency than the 18 announced candidates they now have:

„ Should Fred Thompson decide to officially enter the race for the Republican nomination, he is already a strong contender, tying John McCain for second place, after Rudy Giuliani. „ Americans would like a third political party (especially self-described Independents, and primary voters who say they are dissatisfied with their current choices) -- but Americans have historically liked the idea of more candidate choices.

But as of now, most don’t know much about or have an opinion of New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who recently dropped out of the Republican Party, perhaps in anticipation of a run at the presidency in 2008 as a third-party candidate.

And on the Democratic side, where most primary voters are satisfied with the choices, Hillary Clinton continues to lead Barack Obama.

MIKE BLOOMBERG AND A THIRD PARTY

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent party registration change from Republican to “Unaffiliated” has many speculating that he is preparing an independent run for President. That speculation has sparked debate about the need for a third political party.

53% say that a third party is needed to compete with the Democratic and Republican parties. 41% disagree. These views are similar to what they were in 1996, and in 1992 voters also expressed the desire for a new party.

Half of both Republicans and Democrats do not think there is a need for a third political party, but 71% of Independents say there is.

DOES THE COUNTRY NEED A THIRD POLITICAL PARTY? Now 3/1996 Yes 53% 53% No 41 42

Bloomberg himself, however, is not well known. Most Americans are undecided or don’t know enough about Bloomberg, and those with an opinion are divided about him.

OPINION OF BLOOMBERG All Rep Dem Ind Favorable 10% 11% 10% 9% Not favorable 8 10 7 7 Undecided 19 21 20 17 Haven’t heard enough 62 57 62 66

Bloomberg is popular among his constituents at home; and nationally, 72% of Americans hold a favorable view of New York City. 13% have a bad image. Since the 9/11 attacks, Americans have held extremely positive views of the Big Apple.

As has been the case since the start of this early campaign, Democratic primary voters continue to be satisfied with their presidential candidates, while Republican primary voters are still looking for more choices. Only 30% of Republicans are satisfied with their candidates – the lowest number ever. Even though another contender, former Senator Fred Thompson, is poised to enter the race soon, at this point, 61% of Republican primary voters want more choices.

SATISFIED WITH YOUR PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS? Republican Democratic Primary Voters Primary Voters Now 5/2007 Now 5/2007 Satisfied 30% 38% 61% 63% Want more choices 61 57 35 35

What may be another indication of dissatisfaction among Republicans is that 56% admit they are not enthusiastic about any of the presidential candidates. Actor and former Senator Fred Thompson, who has yet to enter the race, tops the list among Republican primary voters as the candidate they are most enthusiastic about with 12%, followed by Rudy Giuliani at 9%.

More Democratic voters are enthusiastic. Among Democratic primary voters, Hillary Clinton (28%) and Barack Obama (22%) top the list as the candidates they are most enthusiastic about. 38% say they are not enthusiastic about a particular candidate.

ARE YOU ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ANY 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE? All Primary Voters Americans Rep Dem Hillary Clinton 16% 4% 28% Barack Obama 13 5 22 Rudy Giuliani 4 9 1 Fred Thompson 3 12 0 Mitt Romney 2 6 0 John McCain 2 4 1 No, none of them 50 56 38

While some voters may be less than enthusiastic about the candidates, most are paying attention to the 2008 presidential campaign. Seven in 10 are paying a lot or some attention.

THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FIGHT

Former Senator Fred Thompson has not quite entered the Republican nomination race, but he is casting a long shadow over it.

When registered voters who say they will vote in a Republican primary or caucus are given a choice among three declared candidates - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney - the race for the nomination stands about where it did last month, with Giuliani well in the lead, and about one in five voters wanting someone other than those three.

IF THESE WERE THE CANDIDATES, WHO WOULD YOU WANT AS REP NOMINEE? (Among Republican Primary Voters) Now 5/2007 4/2007 Giuliani 42% 36% 47% McCain 26 22 25 Romney 8 15 10 Someone else/none 19 21 13

But when Fred Thompson's name is added to that list, the Tennessean vaults into the top tier -- though Giuliani still leads. Thompson's support appears to come heavily from those looking for "someone else," and some from Giuliani.

IF FRED THOMPSON RUNS… IF THESE WERE THE CANDIDATES, WHO WOULD YOU WANT AS REP NOMINEE? (Among Republican Primary Voters) With Thompson Without Thompson Giuliani 34% 42% McCain 21 26 Romney 6 8 Thompson 22 -- Someone else/none 7 19

Though Thompson remains an unknown quantity to most Republican primary voters, awareness of him has increased since April, and the result of that is positive: almost no one familiar with him holds a negative opinion.

OPINION OF FRED THOMPSON… (Among Republican Primary Voters) Now 4/2007 Favorable 33% 21% Not favorable 3 0 Undecided/Haven’t heard enough 62 78

Among the other three leading candidates, views on Rudy Giuliani remain strongly positive; views of McCain are still mostly positive; and Romney gets positive marks from those who have an opinion but remains largely unknown nationwide.

OPINION OF … (Among Republican Primary Voters) McCain Giuliani Romney Now 5/2007 Now 5/2007 Now 5/2007 Favorable 35% 33% 52% 53% 24% 28% Not favorable 19 31 12 18 11 11 Undecided/Haven’t heard enough 45 35 36 28 64 60

All the contenders tested in this poll are seen as sharing the values of most Republicans, although Giuliani is the most likely of them to be seen as not doing so. Sentiments on this haven't changed in the last month. Fred Thompson is believed to share Republican values, though many do not know enough about him to say.

DOES … SHARE THE VALUES OF MOST REPUBLICANS? (Among Republican Primary Voters) McCain Giuliani Romney Thompson Yes 56% 49% 38% 44% No 24 31 15 8 Don't know 20 20 47 48

Some Republican primary voters, around one in four, believe John McCain compromises too much with Democrats.

DOES MCCAIN TRY TO COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS…? (Among Republican Primary Voters) Too much 28% About right 41 Not enough 6

THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Clinton maintains her lead in a three-way race over Democrats Barack Obama and John Edwards. Among registered voters who say they plan to vote in a Democratic primary or caucus, 48% would like to see her as the Democratic nominee, while 24% would like to see Obama as the nominee and 11% prefer John Edwards. Those figures have changed little since last month.

IF THESE WERE THE CANDIDATES, WHO WOULD YOU WANT AS DEM NOMINEE? (Among Democratic Primary Voters) Now 5/2007 4/2007 Clinton 48% 46% 39% Obama 24 24 24 Edwards 11 14 21

Clinton leads among both men and women who say they will vote in a Democratic primary. She also enjoys stronger support than Obama among liberals, while among moderates they run about evenly.

Positive opinions of Clinton, Obama and Edwards have risen in this poll. 67% of Democratic primary voters now have a favorable opinion of Clinton, up from 62% in May. 54% have a favorable view of Obama, up from 44%, and positive views of Edwards are now at 50%, up from 45%.

Governor Bill Richardson is not well-known: just 7% have a favorable impression of the Governor of New Mexico, 11% are unfavorable, and 81% are undecided or haven’t heard enough about him yet to have an opinion.

OPINIONS OF SOME DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES (Among Democratic Primary Voters) Not Undecided/ Favorable favorable Haven’t heard Hillary Clinton 67% 18 15 Barack Obama 54% 14 32 John Edwards 50% 11 39 Bill Richardson 7% 11 81

Among registered voters overall, opinions of Clinton, Obama and Edwards are not as positive. For Hillary Clinton, favorable views among voters overall just slightly outnumber unfavorable views.

OPINIONS OF SOME DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES (Among All Registered Voters) Not Undecided/ Favorable favorable Haven’t heard Hillary Clinton 45% 40 15 Barack Obama 40% 22 37 John Edwards 33% 27 40 Bill Richardson 7% 10 81

Hillary Clinton’s gender won’t be an issue for most voters; majorities of Democratic primary voters, and voters overall, say that most people they know would vote for a woman. However, sizable minorities think it would be an issue for the people they know. Republicans and conservatives are more likely than Democrats and liberals to say people they know would not vote for a woman; of course, in the context of this election year, voting for a woman probably does mean voting for Senator Clinton.

WOULD MOST PEOPLE YOU KNOW VOTE FOR A WOMAN? Democratic All voters primary voters Yes 56% 65% No 34 25

And the presence of her husband as Clinton campaigns may help her. 51% of voters overall, and 77% of Democratic primary voters, have a favorable opinion of former President Bill Clinton. (75% of Republican primary voters have an unfavorable view of him though.)

One prominent figure in Democratic politics not currently running for President -- former Vice President Al Gore -- is viewed positively by party loyalists but less so among voters overall. 55% of Democratic primary voters view Gore favorably. But among all voters, just 34% do, and even more, 40%, have a negative view. That’s not much different than in April.

VIEWS OF AL GORE Democratic All voters primary voters Favorable 34% 55% Not favorable 40 20 Undecided/haven’t heard enough 25 24

RELIGION AND POLITICS

Voters are divided on whether it is okay for political candidates to talk about their religion while campaigning. 50% think it is appropriate, while 48% disagree. Voters expressed similar views in the spring of the 2004 presidential campaign.

Two-thirds of Republicans (65%) say it is okay for candidates to talk about their religion, while 57% of Democrats say it is not. White evangelicals are especially likely to say such discussion by candidates is appropriate – three in four think it is. Protestants in general think political candidates talking about their religion is appropriate, but Catholics disagree.

APPROPRIATE FOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES TO TALK ABOUT THEIR RELIGION? (Among Registered Voters) White All Rep Dem Ind Evang Catholic 5/2004 Yes 50% 65% 41% 48% 75% 42% 50% No 48 32 57 51 24 57 47

Voters are less tolerant of mixing religion and politics when it comes to talk by religious leaders. Most voters (70%) think it is inappropriate for religious leaders to urge people to vote for or against a political candidate. Back in May 2004, 63% said such conduct was inappropriate.

Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans think such urging by religious leaders is unacceptable, but Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to say it is appropriate. White evangelicals are more divided on the question. A majority of regular churchgoers say it is inappropriate for religious leaders to urge people to vote for or against a political candidate.

APPROPRIATE FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO URGE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE? (Among Registered Voters) White All Rep Dem Ind Evang 5/2004 Yes 27% 41% 21% 22% 45% 33% No 70 58 77 72 52 63

Six in ten voters say it is not very important for a presidential candidate to share their religious beliefs, but 38% say that it is. Those most likely to say it is important are Republicans, white evangelicals, and those who attend religious services regularly. Protestants are more likely than Catholics to say it is important that a candidate share their religious beliefs. John F. Kennedy has been the country’s one Catholic president.

IMPORTANT FOR A CANDIDATE TO SHARE YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS (Among Registered Voters) White All Rep Dem Ind Evang Very 15% 30% 7% 12% 39% Somewhat 23 28 23 18 31 Not very 23 20 27 21 15 Not at all 38 21 42 48 14

Even though most voters do not think it is imperative that a candidate shares their religion, nearly two-thirds say it is important that a candidate have strong religious beliefs even if those beliefs are not the same as theirs. Democrats and Republican both say it is important that a candidate have strong religious beliefs.

IMPORTANT FOR A CANDIDATE HAVE STRONG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS (Among Registered Voters) White All Rep Dem Ind Evang Very 27% 43% 23% 20% 44% Somewhat 36 35 35 36 35 Not very 16 12 19 17 13 Not at all 20 7 23 27 6

ROMNEY AND RELIGION

For all the talk about whether being Mormon will affect Mitt Romney's Presidential chances, many GOP primary voters don't know what his religion is.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT ROMNEY'S RELIGION IS? (Among Republican Primary Voters) Yes, Mormon 41% Something else 4 No 55

Asked whether most people they know would vote for a Mormon, Republican primary voters give mixed responses. Voters in general are slightly less positive about the prospect.

WOULD MOST PEOPLE YOU KNOW VOTE FOR A MORMON? Rep. Primary voters All registered voters Yes 36% 32% No 40 43 Not sure 25 25

______This poll was conducted among a random sample of 836 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone June 26-28, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

CBS NEWS POLL CAMPAIGN 2008 June 26-28, 2007 q1-19 RELEASED SEPARATELY q20 Are you generally satisfied with the candidates now running for the Democratic nomination for President, or do you wish there were more choices?

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS May07a % % Satisfied 61 63 More choices 35 35 DK/NA 4 2 q21 Are you generally satisfied with the candidates now running for the Republican nomination for President, or do you wish there were more choices?

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS May07a Satisfied 30 38 More choices 61 57 DK/NA 9 5 q22 Is your opinion of Mike Bloomberg favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Mike Bloomberg yet to have an opinion?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** ** Party ID ** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % Favorable 10 11 10 9 Not favorable 8 10 7 7 Undecided 19 21 20 17 Haven't heard enough 62 57 62 66 Refused 1 1 1 1 q23 Is your opinion of Bill Clinton favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Bill Clinton yet to have an opinion?

Mar07a Favorable 51 12 79 49 48 Not favorable 32 76 6 29 38 Undecided 12 7 9 17 11 Haven't heard enough 4 3 4 4 2 Refused 1 2 2 1 1 q24 BLANK q25 Thinking about the candidates now running for President, is there any candidate that you feel enthusiastic about? IF YES: Who is that?

Total Rep. Primary Dem. Primary Respondents Voters Voters % % % Hillary Rodham Clinton 16 4 28 Barack Obama 13 5 22 Rudy Giuliani 4 9 1 Fred Thompson 3 12 0 John McCain 2 4 1 Mitt Romney 2 6 0 John Edwards 1 0 2 Dennis Kucinich 1 0 1 None of Them 50 56 38 Other 4 1 3 DK/NA 4 3 4 q26 How much attention have you been able to pay to the 2008 presidential campaign -- a lot, some, not much, or no attention so far?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** May07a % A lot 25 31 22 23 22 Some 46 39 50 48 47 Not much 23 24 22 23 21 None at all 6 6 6 5 10 DK/NA 0 0 0 1 0 q27 Some people say the country needs a third political party -- a new party to compete with the Democratic and Republican parties. Do you agree or disagree?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** Mar96d Agree 53 42 43 71 53 Disagree 41 52 51 23 42 Don't know/No answer 6 6 6 6 5 q28 If the 2008 election for President were being held today, would you probably vote for the Republican candidate or would you probably vote for the Democratic candidate?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** May07a Republican 28 76 2 19 33 Democratic 55 7 93 53 49 Other (vol.) 1 0 0 2 1 Won't vote (vol.) 0 1 0 0 0 Depends (vol.) 7 11 1 11 10 DK/NA 9 5 4 15 7 q29 Do you think most people you know would vote for a presidential candidate who is Mormon, or not?

Mar07a* Would 32 36 29 32 33 Would not 43 42 44 43 54 DK/NA 25 22 27 25 13 *Varied wording: Do you think most people would vote for a presidential candidate who is Mormon, or not? q30 Do you think most people you know would vote for a presidential candidate who is a woman, or not?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % Would 56 41 62 62 Would not 34 49 29 27 DK/NA 10 10 9 11 q31 I'm going to name some possible 2008 presidential candidates and ask you what you think of them. If you haven't heard much about someone I name, just tell me. Is your opinion of Rudy Giuliani favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Rudy Giuliani yet to have an opinion?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** Rep. *** Party ID *** Primary Total Rep Dem Ind Voters May07a % % % % % % Favorable 36 52 27 33 52 34 Not favorable 27 12 36 30 12 25 Undecided 27 29 25 28 28 27 Haven't heard enough 10 8 12 9 8 13 Refused 0 0 0 0 0 1 q32 Is your opinion of John McCain favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about John McCain yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 27 34 23 26 35 23 Not favorable 29 20 34 29 19 30 Undecided 25 35 19 23 36 26 Haven't heard enough 19 10 23 21 9 20 Refused 0 1 1 1 1 1 q33 Is your opinion of Mitt Romney favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Mitt Romney yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 12 24 4 11 24 14 Not favorable 16 8 19 19 11 16 Undecided 19 25 20 13 24 18 Haven't heard enough 52 42 57 55 40 52 Refused 1 1 0 2 1 0 q34 Is your opinion of Fred Thompson favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Fred Thompson yet to have an opinion? Apr07a Favorable 17 31 9 14 33 11 Not favorable 11 4 16 11 3 4 Undecided 13 14 11 14 14 11 Haven't heard enough 58 51 64 57 48 74 Refused 1 0 0 4 2 0 q35 Is your opinion of Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Hillary Rodham Clinton yet to have an opinion?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** Dem. *** Party ID *** Primary Total Rep Dem Ind Voters May07a % % % % % % Favorable 45 12 69 44 67 38 Not favorable 40 76 14 40 18 42 Undecided 13 9 16 14 14 19 Haven't heard enough 2 3 1 1 1 2 Refused 0 0 0 1 0 0 q36 Is your opinion of John Edwards favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about John Edwards yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 33 12 48 33 50 30 Not favorable 27 53 12 23 11 28 Undecided 26 23 26 28 29 27 Haven't heard enough 14 12 13 16 10 14 Refused 0 0 1 0 0 1 q37 Is your opinion of Barack Obama favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Barack Obama yet to have an opinion?

Favorable 40 21 54 41 54 34 Not favorable 22 38 13 18 14 21 Undecided 22 25 18 24 20 25 Haven't heard enough 15 16 14 17 12 20 Refused 1 0 1 0 0 0 q38 Is your opinion of Al Gore favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Al Gore yet to have an opinion?

Apr07a Favorable 34 7 57 31 55 38 Not favorable 40 78 16 37 20 41 Undecided 22 14 23 28 22 17 Haven't heard enough 3 2 3 3 2 3 Refused 1 0 1 1 1 1 q39 Is your opinion of Bill Richardson favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Bill Richardson yet to have an opinion?

Jan07a Favorable 7 6 7 9 7 6 Not favorable 10 12 12 8 11 9 Undecided 14 13 18 12 16 20 Haven't heard enough 67 69 63 70 65 65 Refused 2 0 0 1 1 0 q40-44 BLANK q45 Suppose the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2008 comes down to a choice among Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama (bar-AHK o-BOM-a), and John Edwards. Who would you most like to see nominated -- Clinton, Obama, Edwards, or would you rather see someone else nominated?

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS May07a % % Clinton 48 46 Obama 24 24 Edwards 11 14 Someone else/None 8 11 Undecided (Vol.) 5 4 DK/NA 4 1 q46-48 BLANK q49 Suppose the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2008 comes down to a choice among John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney. Who would you most like to see nominated -- McCain, Giuliani, Romney, or would you rather see someone else nominated?

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS May07a % % McCain 26 22 Giuliani 42 36 Romney 8 15 Someone else/None 19 21 Undecided (vol.) 2 3 DK/NA 3 3 q50 Suppose the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2008 comes down to a choice among John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson. Who would you most like to see nominated -- McCain, Giuliani, Romney, Thompson, or would you rather see someone else nominated?

McCain 21 Giuliani 34 Romney 6 Thompson 22 Someone else/None 7 Undecided (vol.) 5 DK/NA 5 q51-54 BLANK q55 Do you think Rudy Giuiliani shares the same values as most Republicans, or doesn't he share the same values?

May07a Shares same values 49 44 Doesn't share values 31 34 Don't know/No answer 20 22 q56 BLANK q57 Do you think John McCain shares the same values as most Republicans, or doesn't he share the same values?

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS May07a % % Shares same values 56 58 Doesn't share values 24 23 Don't know/No answer 20 19 q58 BLANK q59 Do you think Mitt Romney shares the same values as most Republicans, or doesn't he share the same values?

Shares same values 38 34 Doesn't share values 15 9 Don't know/No answer 47 57 q60 BLANK q61 Do you think Fred Thompson shares the same values as most Republicans, or doesn't he share the same values?

Shares same values 44 Doesn't share values 8 Don't know/No answer 48 q62 From what you have seen or heard about John McCain, do you think John McCain tries to compromise with Democrats too often, not often enough, or does he try to compromise with Democrats about the right amount?

Too often 28 Not often enough 6 Right amount 41 Don't know/No answer 25 q63 BLANK q64 Do you think it is appropriate for political candidates to talk about their religious beliefs as part of their political campaigns, or do you think this is not appropriate?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind May04b % % % % % Appropriate 50 65 41 48 50 Not appropriate 48 32 57 51 47 Don't know/No answer 2 3 2 1 3 q65 Do you think it is appropriate for religious leaders to urge people to vote for or against a political candidate, or is that not appropriate?

Appropriate 27 41 21 22 33 Not appropriate 70 58 77 72 63 Don't know/No answer 3 1 2 6 4 q66 Thinking about your vote for president next year, how important is it that a candidate SHARES your religious beliefs -- is it very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important ?

** REGISTERED VOTERS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % Very important 15 30 7 12 Somewhat important 23 28 23 18 Not very important 23 20 27 21 Not at all important 38 21 42 48 Don't know/Refused 1 1 1 1 q67 How important is it for a candidate to have STRONG religious beliefs, regardless of whether those beliefs are the same as yours -- is it very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important.

Very important 27 43 23 20 Somewhat important 36 35 35 36 Not very important 16 12 19 17 Not at all important 20 7 23 27 DK/NA 1 3 0 0 q68 BLANK q69-q70 RELEASED SEPARATELY q71 Do you know what Mitt Romney's religion is? IF YES, ASK: What religion is he?

Rep. Total Primary Respondents Voters % % Protestant 0 0 Catholic 0 1 Jewish 0 0 Other 0 0 None 1 3 Mormon/LDS 32 41 Muslim 0 0 Don't know/no answer 67 55

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED Total Respondents 836

Total Republicans 236 211 (25%) Total Democrats 308 315 (38%) Total Independents 292 310 (37%)

Registered Voters 750

Republican Primary Voters 212 188 Democratic Primary Voters 336 354