---
title: "White Mainline Protestants and Republican Presidential Candidates"
description: "Giuliani Generates the Most Enthusiasm Where do white mainline Protestants stand with regard to the announced and potential Republican presidential candidates? A June survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press sheds light on this question at this stage of the campaign by measuring name recognition and likelihood of support at […]"
date: "2007-06-04"
authors:
  - name: "No Author"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2007/06/04/publicationpage-aspxid813/"
categories:
  - "Mainline Protestantism"
---

# White Mainline Protestants and Republican Presidential Candidates

**Giuliani Generates the Most Enthusiasm** Where do white mainline Protestants stand with regard to the announced and potential Republican presidential candidates? A June survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press sheds light on this question at this stage of the campaign by measuring name recognition and likelihood of support at the polls. ([View a complete discussion of the survey findings and more details on the survey methodology](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/reports/display.php3?ReportID=334).)

**Name Recognition.** Among white mainline Protestants, Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters are nearly unanimous in saying they are familiar with [Rudy Giuliani](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-rudolph-giuliani/), and more than nine-in-ten have heard of Newt Gingrich* (94%) and [John McCain](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=3) (93%). [Mitt Romney](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=1) is known by 78% of white mainline Protestants, and Fred Thompson* is familiar to 68%.

Other Republican candidates and potential candidates are less well-known; among all Republican and Republican leaning registered voters, 51% report having heard of Tommy Thompson, 48% of [Mike Huckabee](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=10), 43% of Chuck Hagel* and 40% of [Sam Brownback](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=7).

**Likely Support.** Among mainline Protestant, Republican registered voters, Giuliani currently generates the most enthusiasm, with nearly one-in-three (30%) saying there is a "good chance" they would vote for him. An additional 46% say there is "some chance," while only 18% say there is "no chance" Giuliani would get their vote. Fewer than one-in-five mainline Protestants say there is a "good chance" they would vote for Romney (18%), Gingrich (16%) or McCain (16%). Gingrich is viewed most negatively by this group, with 46% saying there is "no chance" they would vote for him, compared to 23% for McCain and 21% for Romney.

Despite being significantly less well-known than many of the other candidates, Fred Thompson generates as much enthusiasm among this group (27% say there is a "good chance" they would vote for him) as do Gingrich and Romney.

* Not an announced candidate as of June 4, 2007.