POST/ABC Poll - McCain 27%

John McCain is the preferred Republican candidate by 27% of respondents to a Washington Post and ABC poll conducted last week.

The poll determined that Rudy Giuliani was in the lead with 34%. The only two others with significant totals at this stage were Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, both on 9%.

This poll comes after the new plan for Iraq, announced last week by President Bush, and heavily backed by McCain. In fact John Edwards has called the new plan "The McCain Doctrine", a term that is being picked up by the media.

The fact that the Iraq war is damaging President Bush's standing will also be having some effect on the poll rating for McCain.

However, there is still a way to go yet.