In the Texas Republican Presidential Primary, John McCain holds a modest eight-point advantage over Mike Huckabee. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race shows McCain earning 45% of the vote while Huckabee attracts 37%. Ron Paul is the choice for 7% and 11% are not sure.

McCain and Huckabee are essentially even among conservative Primary voters while McCain leads among more moderate voters.

Immigration is the top voting issue for 26% of Likely Republican Primary voters in Texas while 25% name the economy as the top priority.

Huckabee leads 45% to 38% among voters who consider immigration to be the top issue. This topic has been a sore subject between McCain and conservatives throughout the campaign. It is therefore interesting to note that voters who view immigration as the top issue strongly prefer McCain over both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in recent state polling (state general election polls have been released in recent days for New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada and Missouri). More state data will be released by Rasmussen Reports this weekend.

Voters who consider the economy as the highest priority overwhelmingly prefer McCain over Huckabee.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Texas have a favorable opinion of McCain while 71% say the same about Huckabee. Twenty-three percent (23%) have an unfavorable opinion of each man.

As for Texas Congressman Ron Paul, 36% have a favorable opinion of him while 52% hold the opposite view.

Eighty-one percent (81%) believe that McCain is at least somewhat likely to win the White House if nominated. That includes 38% who say he is Very Likely to win in November.

Nationally, in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, McCain leads Hillary Clinton but trails Barack Obama.

Rasmussen Markets data now shows McCain with a % chance to win the nomination and Huckabee has a % chance. 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.

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