Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani would win the Republican nomination for president if he sought the office — at least according to a new CNN poll released Friday.
The poll offers a deja vu moment, as Giuliani led the Republican field ahead of the 2008 election, only to win zero delegates in the primaries and caucuses.
If Giuliani entered the race, 16 percent of respondents indicated that they would vote for him, compared with 15 percent who would vote for Mitt Romney and 13 percent for Sarah Palin.
CNN Polling Director Keating Holland observed that “Giuliani has the top spot in a 12-candidate field, but he doesn’t generate a lot of enthusiasm.”
The poll found that 12 percent supported Ron Paul and 10 percent preferred Herman Cain. Newt Gingrich was supported by eight percent, Michele Bachmann by seven percent, and Tim Pawlenty by five percent. There was a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.
New York Republican Rep. Peter King said on Tuesday that Giuliani, a friend, was “very close to saying he’s going to run.”