Gardner was among a number of self-described moderate Republicans who criticized Gov. Bill Ritter for signing an executive order allowing state employees collective bargaining rights.
A self-described "urban" Republican, he has been influential in Toledo-area politics for over a decade.
He is a self-described moderate Republican who allied himself with Newt Gingrich when Mr. Gingrich was the House speaker.
Russ Fisher-Ives, 51, a self-described liberal Republican, pulled up a chair at a restaurant on Route 66 in Bernalillo and said he was also disillusioned with the party.
Even more problematic for the administration, pollsters have found, is that Americans who have soured on the war include many independent voters and some self-described Republicans.
Butler, although a self-described Republican, responded by supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 U.S. presidential election.
The Governor needs to draw support from both Democrats and independent voters because, the poll found, she had the support of only 7 of 10 self-described Republicans.
"Don't judge me because of my sexuality," said one of the three, Justin Hager, 20, a self-described Republican from a military family who has "a driving desire to join" the armed forces.
Large majorities of self-described Republicans supported Mr. Lazio, while Mrs. Clinton won the votes of most Democrats.
Although both Mr. Gulotta and Mr. Purcell are self-described conservative Republicans, they have clearly different philosophies on how government should work.