While Hillary Clinton remains the favorite for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination next year, Republicans are still searching for a frontrunner at this early stage in the 2008 election process.  VOA national correspondent Jim Malone reports from Washington.

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani speaks during a town hall meeting at the Woodrow Wilson junior high school, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, 18 July 2007

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani led the Republican field with 21 percent, followed by former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, who has yet to officially enter the race, at 19 percent.

Arizona Senator John McCain placed next with 15 percent, followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who drew 11 percent support.

But the surprising thing about the poll was that 25 percent of those surveyed were either unsure who they preferred or wanted none of the candidates listed, suggesting a wide open race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination next year.

Part of the reason for this is that there is no logical heir apparent in line for the Republican Party nomination in 2008.

President Bush is limited to two terms by the U.S. Constitution and Vice President Dick Cheney has said he will not be a candidate.

Sen. John McCain talks with reporters regarding changes to his presidential campaign staff on Capitol Hill, 10 July  2007

But for a variety of reasons, things have not worked in McCain's favor.

John McIntyre edits a political website called RealClearPolitics.com.

"There is just an animus among conservative voters towards John McCain," he said.  "So even though he was sort of the heir apparent, he just was not a natural fit for rank and file base Republican voters.  And so that is why you see a vacuum out there because after John McCain, there really was not an heir apparent."

Actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson during an interview on the 'Fox News Sunday' program in Washington, DC, 11 March 2007

Thompson is expected to enter the race soon and would be a fresh alternative for social conservative voters, an important constituency within the Republican Party.

Analyst John McIntyre says the Romney campaign in particular has been courting social conservatives, and that Thompson's expected entrance into the race could have an impact.

"This is where Fred Thompson is a real problem for his [Romney's] campaign because now, suddenly, conservative Republican base voters who were not enamored with Giuliani's social liberalism on some positions, did not like McCain, they have an option in Fred Thompson.  A real option, a conservative option that they like, so I think at the end of the day, Romney is who it hurts the most," he noted.

Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney waves to supporters during a Fourth of July Parade Wednesday in Clear Lake, Iowa, 4 July 2007

Washington-based analyst Stuart Rothenberg sees a three-way battle for the Republican nomination between Giuliani, Romney, and Thompson.

"All three having a chance, but probably you would have to regard Thompson, even though he would be a late entry, as the kind of guy who, if he does what people think he might, would possibly be the best fit for the party," he said.

Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore recently dropped out of the Republican race, leaving a total of nine contenders.

The others include former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, California Congressman Duncan Hunter, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas.