The latest USA Today/Gallup poll is out, and it’s clear that Fred Thompson even talking about running for President has shaken up the Republican field:
former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson shook up the field when he said he would consider getting into the presidential race. These days, Thompson is familiar as the actor who plays District Attorney Arthur Branch on the NBC drama Law & Order.
Chosen by 12% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters, Thompson is third in the Republican field, jumping ahead of a half-dozen contenders. He trails former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, at 31%, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, at 22%. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich is at 8%.
(…)
Thompson gained ground as Giuliani lost it. In the USA TODAY Poll taken March 2-4, Giuliani was at 44%, 13 percentage points higher than in the new survey. McCain had been at 20%, 2 points lower than now.
Backing for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has dropped. He was chosen by 3%, the same as Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. Romney’s support in early March had been 8%.
Further evidence that, should he decide to run, Thompson will be in the top tier of Republican candidates.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Considering the field, it’s no surprise that Thompson would rise so quick. Both Rudy and McCain are considered RINO’s by many in the GOP, while Thompson doesn’t carry that tag.