The same poll that shows John Kerry losing to Hillary Clinton in a Massachusetts presidential primary also reveals that Governor Mitt Romney, a supposed 2008 contender for the GOP nomination, badly trails the leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate:
As Romney weighs whether to forgo a reelection bid to prepare a run for president in 2008, the poll found that his chief Democratic rival for the governor's office, Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, has continued to hold his lead over Romney. Reilly leads Romney by 51 to 38 percent in a matchup for a potential 2006 governor's race. In March, Reilly led 48 to 41 percent.
The survey of 503 adults, completed last week, found that 41 percent said Romney has accomplished little as governor, posing a challenge if he tries to promote himself on the presidential trail as an effective chief executive and political leader. Only 16 percent said he has accomplished ''a lot" and another 34 percent think he has been blocked by the Legislature.
The portion of adults who think he should be reelected remains at a precariously low level, with 30 percent saying he should be given a second term, and 51 percent saying someone else should be elected. That is statistically the same finding as in a Globe poll in March.
The poll found that Romney also would fare poorly in a potential GOP presidential primary in Massachusetts. Asked their choice if the GOP primary were held now, Republicans preferred both former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Senator John McCain of Arizona to Romney.
Once again, if you can't win in your home state, you're probably not a strong presidential contender. These are horrible numbers.
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