More: Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani has wide appeal for his leadership as New York City mayor after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but his social liberalism and two divorces are a show-stopper for many. So is the Mormon faith of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

Their short descriptions of Giuliani were a mixed bag: along with "confident" and "leader," there was "cocky," "cold," and "arrogant." Asked which family member he most reminds them of, one woman answered, "the evil stepfather." The group was vaguely aware of his two divorces and estrangement from his two children

One man guessed that Mr. Thompson has children in their 40s; none seemed to know that his second wife isn't even that old, and he has two small children.

As for Vice President Dick Cheney, two voters said he should retire. Others called him "cold," "sick," "weak," "secretive," "calculating" and, at best, "very influential."