Poll puts Fred Thompson just behind Giuliani in GOP race

The LA Times, ( Yeah, I read the LA Times) discounts Fred Thompson's good showing in a new LA Times/Bloomberg poll, because, according to them, "Thompson is just starting to introduce himself. He has never endured the rigors of a high-profile campaign and has not parried with rivals in debates, as Giuliani and nine other Republicans have three times this spring."

It will be interesting to see which way the polls go after his first debate. People are ready for a straight talker, but will the debate audience recieve it right off the bat? It may be a shock to some to see this guy who has been a politician and an actor, talk like neither. After folks see that this is Fred Thompson and he is consistent in what he says, he will surge in the polls. First place is a hard place to be, so don't be dissapointed if Fred doesn't rise to the top as quickly as you'd like. As long as he's first in the primaries.


By Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writer2:52 PM PDT, June 11, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Republicans antsy for a conservative standard-bearer in the presidential race have begun to rally behind Fred Thompson, propelling the former Tennessee senator to within hailing distance of the lead for the party's nomination, a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll has found.Former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani holds first place in the survey, with support from 27% of the Republicans and independents who said they planned to vote in the party's 2008 primaries.But Thompson, an actor who plays a prosecutor on NBC's "Law and Order," polled 21%. Indications are he will join the race within the next month.The two other major GOP contenders, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, have fallen well short of the leaders and are in a battle for third place. McCain was backed by 12% of those polled, Romney by 10%. The rest of the crowded field is mired in single digits.
Overall, the survey underscored the unsettled nature of the Republican contest, with voters splitting roughly along ideological lines.Giuliani, whose views on abortion, gay rights and guns are to the left of many in his party, has built a wide base among moderates and independents, while Thompson has drawn conservatives, particularly among the religious right.That dynamic, however, could quickly change. Giuliani for months has faced a swarm of media scrutiny of his weak spots yet has kept his lead in national polls intact, if somewhat diminished.Thompson, by contrast, is just starting to introduce himself. He has never endured the rigors of a high-profile campaign and has not parried with rivals in debates, as Giuliani and nine other Republicans have three times this spring.Thompson "has this allure, but he hasn't been tested yet," said Times Poll director Susan Pinkus, who conducted the survey. "He has gotten a free ride so far."The poll of 1,056 registered voters was conducted by telephone Thursday through Sunday. Republican-leaning voters totaled 408; Democratic ones numbered 449. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points for all voters, and plus or minus 5 points for voters in each primary.