Fred Thompson's impending entry into the GOP presidential race is already starting to effect the national polls. This morning, the most recent Rasmussen tracking poll was released and it shows a wild swing from last week:
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support has slipped to 23%. That's down two points from a week ago and is his lowest level of support all year.
...
Thompson, who just formed an exploratory committee and is the newest face in the race, immediately moved into second place. With 17% support, he is within six points of the frontrunner. That's closer than anybody has been to Giuliani in 20 consecutive weekly polls.
...
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the top choice for 15% of those likely to vote in a GOP primary. That's little changed from the last couple of weeks and keeps him a single-point ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain who is preferred by 14%.
McCain is now in fourth place and I think we can now say that McCain is not a frontrunner. Now I'm really curious about how his fundraising is going. McCain would still have been struggling even without the immigration amnesty plan, but now it's just the last straw.This is the first Rasmussen where Romney has lost ground since March when he was at 10%. Romney is still in third place but is now behind Thompson, and ahead of McCain.
Giuliani, as noted, is at the lowest point all year and is now where John McCain was near the end of January. Not a comfortable place to be at all.
And as for Fred, this was expected and he is still polling at a discount without having made his formal announcement. So far he matches up best against Hillary but still trails by 3 points. About the same level as John McCain but a little behind how Rudy matches up.
This is about what I expected would happen, just not this fast.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 3)
31. Bush has been a great president. While congress seems to scrapple like unruly children, Bush has stood firm giving us some calming influence in the midst of insanity. He has had a rough ride on a bucking bronco and has remained calm in the storm. A good man!
The main objective of a president should be representing usa with the rest of the world. Our domestic situations should be handled by the states. We do not need a president to think for us. That would be a dictatoship. We were freed from being over taxed and wrongfully imprisioned when we fought the revolution and set up the right kind of government. I see snatches of English rule when sex scandle is used to try to sway thinking.
Deliver me from the harping of the media and find me a man of state that stands above and quietly stands firm.
pat at 1:23AM on Jun 10th 2007
32. Whoa, There are waaaay too many false premise's seen on this blog. Let's start with the comments about Christian this and Christian that. There are just as many church going people that support the democratic platform as there are that support the republican platform. Besides Who Cares if a voter goes to church or not? They have the right to vote and they have the right to go to church. They also have the right not to be sterotyped by whatever it is you say they are ... Christians don't walk in lock step and barrell with each other. If they did, there would not be so many different kinds of churches.
Then there is all the talk about someone being a racist because a person is a white republican - Quit that worn out rhetoric and GET REAL!! Besides, I thought it was all white males that are racist.
And what's with all the talk about his younger wife being one of his perversions? Just More Nonsense!! You must think an adult woman does not have the ability to think for herself.
And the remarks such as, ugly man, lousy actor, comes from a hillbilly state - Good Grief, listen to what you are saying. That description could fit any number of people on the democratic side. You people characterize, streotype, and pigeon hole people, while at the same time you call everyone else racist and bigots. Listen to yourself. Don't any of you hear what you are saying ????
I don't care what side of the aisle anyone chooses to be on. Just be on that side for intelligent reasons and not because of the same confoundry that gets passed down and reperated over and over and over.
And yes, I am very strongly for Fred Thompson. We are living in perilous times and we need someone who is motivated by their ability, and not motivated by their politics or their personal ambitions and agenda.
Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson at 10:50AM on Jun 6th 2007
33. Too much is being made of Thompson, as the GOP grasps at straws to try to find someone who can win. He supports the war, and I don't see anyone who supports the war winning in 08. And he has strong right-wing views, adorable to many GOP faithful, but a loser in the general election. America has had enough of "family values" and "morals" from what's proven to be a pretty corrupt, power hungry, arrogant crowd that's intent on blurring the separation of church and state and narrowing our civil liberties. Plus he's been raising money for Scooter Libby who's been convicted and going to prison. Great campaign fodder. Thompson is interesting and qualified, but doesn't seem to have the fire in the belly and I think he may be the Wesley Clark of 08.
Lee at 11:18AM on Jun 6th 2007
34. I just had to laugh at the poster who wrote, "We do not need a president to think for us. That would be a dictatorship." Excuse me, but welcome to 2007 and I give you George W. Bush.
Lee at 11:22AM on Jun 6th 2007
35. I think Fred's popularity is because of 2 reasons
1st is because of his role on Law & Order, which has become an outlet for the liberals of this country to bash Bush. Not favorable for Fred!!!!
2nd Because the conservative christians are looking for something that the currently candidates are not supplying at this time.
I personally would not vote for Fred due to his stanceon Clinton's impeachment, and that he is not a true conservative. He said he was for abortions, now he said in an interview on Hannity & Colmes last night that maybe one of his staff marked the box that he was pro-abortion. Seems like the start of a flip-flop. Right now I would have to vote for Mitt Romney if the election took place today, simply because he seems to stand for the things that I am looking for in a President, and has shown that he is a man of morals, integrity and can handle restructing Washington which is what we desparately need. Someone who will balance the budget and not hurt the econmy in doing so. Make sure Healthcare is available for everyone and not raise taxes to do so. And foremost he WILL protect this country by building the military and securing our boarders. Seems like a will rounded candidate to me. After last night debate the question of his religion came up and his response was that he believed in the Bible and Jesus as his personal Savior and that just put the icing on the cake for me. So unless another candidate enters the race that shows me more. My vote is for MITT.
Melody at 7:44PM on Jun 6th 2007
36. "i only hope we can survive til 2008 when this administration is finally over. we should make it a national holiday."
bobby at 11:45PM on Jun 5th 2007
AMEN to that!!!
Honestly, I almost feel most of us who have suffered, agonized and fretted over the calamity of these past 6-1/2 years, would/could be in serious need of intensive therapy or an extended vacation.
Extremely distressing times.
Fred Thompson.
Hmm.
Another actor. Sure he's a politician now but why would you choose him over the seasoned, well rounded, experienced men in the field?
Surely thier tenure and experience accounts for Something!
If Thompson has a handler like Rove shaping his campaign here's what you'll get -
Another good ole boy.
Able to turn on an engaging, down home, 'regllar folk' persona.
They'll have him wearing plaid shirts and jeans with his beer-gut hanging over his belt buckle.
He'll show up at State Fairs, chew the fat whilst drinking a root beer with the people.
Perhaps he'll show up in an big ole pick-up truck!
Hell!
That's all the credentials America needs from thier President.
We LOVE that he's a TV 'Star".
He looks down to Earth and he's a real man's man!!
Yep! He's your boy!
Just the person to repair the damage done to our international reputation.
Just the one to restore our Constitutional Rites.
Just the man to unravel the tangled mess of IRAQ, Iran, Afghanistan and the list goes on and on and on.
Leave it to he American public to choose another GREAT president.
Intelligence doesn't matter. Bush is a moron.
Integrity doesn't matter. Bush doesn't know the meaning of the word.
Honesty? Hah!
And God knows THE TRUTH is a non sequitur.
Lord help us all.
pam0402 at 12:25PM on Jun 6th 2007
37. Fred Thompson/Duncan Hunter go, go go! I would like to see these two men win the race. God Bless America!
codee at 6:07PM on Jun 7th 2007
38. Oh and there is nothing ridiculous for a man to marry someone young. That is a man's faith with whoever he marry's from his heart.
codee at 6:07PM on Jun 7th 2007
39. The American Public is being vaccumed into the vortex of more inept politicians. We have a war to win on two fronts with a possible third war lurking on the horizon. Wake up America!
D H Appel at 9:12PM on Jun 7th 2007
40. Democrat Presidential candidate Edwards makes it easier for Clinton and Obama. Edwards is coming on like a anti-war fanatic in complete denial of an enemey who attacked U.S. and killed thousands of ordinary U.S. citizens.
The U.S. needs a terror doctrine and a global war on terror. Edwards is so navie about the Muslim Islam jihad against Western civilization. Take a look at what they are teaching their children.
Alan Klaus at 4:08PM on Jun 8th 2007
41. Mitt Romney had the courage to state his belief in God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most American voters believe in God and those who value their Christian church fellowship in the membership of the grace of God will value Mitt Romney. A man of God.
Alan Klaus at 4:20PM on Jun 8th 2007
42. Ron Paul is the best hope both for the republicans and the country.
philimargot at 1:25AM on Jun 9th 2007
43. Astounding...this comment ..."Hooray! Finally a real person instead of a bunch of guys and girls with canned speechs telling everyone what they want to hear through small sound bits. This guys a winner!!! "...typicfies the DELUSIONALITY RAMPANT IN THE RANKS OF THE PRESENT Republican ranks still running amuck !!! HOW ABOUT A REALITY CHECK folks...or can NONE ACTUALLY HANDLE THE TRUTH ? Going for another CHARADED CHARACTER IS NOT THE ANSWER to "save" the GOP....How about finding someone who is actually CAPABLE and NOT CULPABLE in "oh so MANY , many ways" ...Thompson is FLAWED and if you do NOT take the time to realize the REALITY of those inherent flaws, the GOP will lose !!!!! (how rampant stupidity is, over impressed due to Thompsons tv acting character--A FICTIONAL CHARACTER folks..."acting/actor"=KEY WORDS !!!!!
Eureeka at 10:54AM on Jun 9th 2007
44. Fred Thompson: old, fat, bald, sick, lobbyist, dirty old man, bad actor. Yuck.
Lynne at 11:16PM on Jun 10th 2007
45. Never tuning in the evening soaps or sitcoms it is not possible for me to know how bad an actor this ex-senator, ex-lobbyist actually has-been.
What is pretty scary though are the numbers of people backing an individual who has so far not presented his agenda or strategy for moving us forward or exactly what he proposes as solutions facing us as a nation. Or is this
the echo of previous GOP think, a desire for a return to the mediocre Reagan era?
As an independent, my opinion is that not one of the front runners has so far impressed me strongly enough to gain my support in this long, slow, jog to the next elections.
Whoever we put into office must have the ability to be an independent thinker, not some OLD tired business as usual hack whose acting has fooled some small numbers of the uninformed into actually seriously considering him presidential material. Thompson is no chief EXECUTIVE nor military strategist. So why all this fuss?
Besides, these many years post 9/11 and our US boarders remain unsecured.W H Y??????
Pierpoint Windsor at 9:43PM on Jun 20th 2007