---
title: "White, non-Hispanic Catholics and Republican Presidential Candidates"
description: "Giuliani Generating the Most Enthusiasm Where do white, non-Hispanic Catholics 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: "Benjamin Wormald"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2007/06/04/publicationpage-aspxid815/"
categories:
  - "Catholicism"
  - "Election 2008"
  - "Religion"
  - "U.S. Elections & Voters"
---

# White, non-Hispanic Catholics and Republican Presidential Candidates

## Giuliani Generating the Most Enthusiasm

Where do white, non-Hispanic Catholics 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 Catholics, Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters are nearly unanimous in saying they have heard of [John McCain](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=3) (99%), [Rudy Giuliani](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-rudolph-giuliani/) (99%) and Newt Gingrich* (97%). [Mitt Romney](/religion08/profile.php?CandidateID=1) is known by 80% of white Catholics and Fred Thompson* is familiar to 69%.

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 white Catholics, Giuliani - who is Catholic himself - currently generates the most enthusiasm by a wide margin, with nearly half (49%) saying there is a "good chance" they would vote for him. An additional 33% say there is "some chance" they would vote for him, while only 15% say there is "no chance" Giuliani would get their vote. In contrast, roughly one-in-four Catholics say there is a "good chance" they would vote for McCain, though 46% say there is "some chance" they would support him. Far fewer white Catholics say they would vote for Gingrich (21% "good chance," 29% "some chance") or Romney (15% "good chance," 35% "some chance"). Gingrich is viewed most negatively by this group, with 46% saying there is "no chance" they would vote for him.

Despite being significantly less well-known than many of the other candidates, Fred Thompson generates as much enthusiasm among white Catholics (24% say there is a "good chance" they would vote for him) as do McCain, Gingrich and Romney.

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