A Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Connecticut’s Republican Presidential Primary finds John McCain with a sixteen-point lead over Mitt Romney in the Nutmeg State. McCain attracts 42% of the vote while just 26% prefer the candidate from the neighboring state of Massachusetts. Rudy Giuliani picked up 12% of the vote and nobody else reached double digits.

Mike Huckabee picked up 8% of the vote, Ron Paul attracts 4%. Five percent (5%) say they’d vote for some other candidate and 3% are not sure.

The survey was conducted Sunday night before McCain’s victory in Florida. Following that victory, McCain became the heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination.

McCain leads in all demographic groups, including Connecticut conservatives. Among conservatives, it’s McCain 37% and Romney 31%. McCain wins the vote from 54% of moderates while just 24% prefer Romney.

One of the major surprises of Election 2008 is that the Republican Presidential Nomination may be decided before the Democrats select their candidate. In Connecticut, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are tied.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Connecticut’s Republican Primary Voters have a favorable opinion of McCain. Sixty-eight percent (68%) say the same about both Romney and Giuliani.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) believe that McCain would be at least somewhat likely to win the nomination if elected. Just 64% believe that’s true of Romney and only 54% believe Giuliani would have a chance.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) named the War on Terror as a Very Important issue for Election 2008. Seventy-six percent (76%) said the same about the economy.

Other polling for Super Tuesday shows that McCain leads or is close in New York, New Jersey, California, Missouri and Alabama. Huckabee leads in Georgia.

Rasmussen Markets data now gives McCain a % chance of winning the nomination. Mitt Romney is at %. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, the Rasmussen Markets harness competitive passions to provide a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events. We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

See a summary of market data for Super Tuesday Republican and Democratic Primaries.

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