A new CBS News poll of white evangelicals has some data that may worry Republican presidential hopefuls.
 
Some 40 percent of white evangelicals who are registered voters say they are less excited than usual about voting in the 2008 presidential election, a further sign of dissatisfaction with the field of candidates. Some 43 percent say they have the same level of enthusiasm.
 
The white evangelical voting bloc represents about 20 percent of the electorate and were key to Republican President George W. Bush’s ascendency to the White House.
 
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has been leading national polls and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has led state polls in Iowa and New Hampshire but their past support of abortion rights has raised concerns among some conservatives.
 
The CBS poll found evangelicals largely support Fred Thompson in the Republican primary, 29 percent to the 26 percent who back Giuliani. Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain was in third with 15 percent and Romney in fourth with 7 percent.
 
CBS also said its survey found that half of those white evangelical Republicans who were not backing Giuliani for the nomination said they would consider voting for him or would definitely vote for him if he won the nomination.

Photo credit: Rick Wilking