Latest poll

Well, I guess from these results there are clearer wings forming for the 2008 GOP Primary (courtesy of GOPBloggers.com):

9183 ballots cast
First Choice:
Giuliani 3004 32.7%
Gingrich 2241 24.4%
Romney 1585 17.3%
Tancredo 597 6.5%
Hunter 458 5%
None 448 4.9%
Brownback 277 3%
McCain 230 2.5%
Huckabee 143 1.6%
Hagel 84 0.9%
Thompson 66 0.7%
Gilmore 39 0.4%
Pataki 11 0.1%

Candidate Acceptability:
Net Votes and %, + Votes , - Votes
Gingrich 4568 +49.7% 6198 1630
Romney 4032 +43.9% 5893 1861
Giuliani 3903 +42.5% 5849 1946
Hunter 949 +10.3% 3814 2865
Tancredo 147 +1.6% 3640 3493
Huckabee -545 -5.9% 3069 3614
Thompson -1145 -12.5% 2814 3959
Brownback -1269 -13.8% 2827 4096
Gilmore -2438 -26.5% 1805 4243
McCain -3225 -35.1% 2424 5649
Pataki -5135 -55.9% 1009 6144
Hagel -6275 -68.3% 540 6815

So, first choices are split between Romney, (who just officially declared), Giuliani (who hasn't officially but has an exploratory committee), and Newt who has not decided one way or another.

Interesting how far down McCain currently sits in terms of first choice and acceptability. Apparently, now no one likes him.

Aside from Newt there may not be a candidate listed that would appeal to the majority of the GOP's base - which would explain how he's got a 4:1 ratio in acceptability of all the votes cast. Romney and Giuliani appeal to the more liberal wings of the party, leaning the more conservative voters without a clear option - and why so many would find Gingrich acceptable.

Perhaps it will be Newt's "turn", and not McCain's, when all is said and done. Whether that translates into victory is an entirely different debate - and it's quite possible he could lose in the general election given his past issues.

I'd write about the Democrats, but it's still Hillary's to lose by about ten miles.