Posted on 06/09/2007 9:11:12 AM PDT by hardback
WASHINGTON --Fred Thompson's expected entry into the tight Republican presidential race is drawing crucial strength from conservatives and older men, vaulting him into the thick of the GOP nomination fight, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll says.
The survey shows the top Democratic contender, Hillary Rodham Clinton, with twice the support from women as her nearest rival but dwindling strength among men. Her margin over Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has eroded slightly since the last AP-Ipsos poll in March.
Thompson, who sandwiched an acting career around eight years as a Tennessee senator, has impressed many despite not yet formally entering the 2008 race. One in four of his supporters cite his strong character, more than any other GOP candidate.
"He can be kind of Reaganesque in his engaging with people," said Ronald Coppinger, 47, a carpenter from Indianapolis, describing a plain-spoken style like the late President Reagan's.
That has helped inject Thompson firmly into the top tier among GOP contenders in the AP-Ipsos poll, released Saturday.
It shows former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 27 percent; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at 19 percent; Thompson essentially even with McCain at 17 percent; and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 10 percent.
On the Democratic side, Clinton, the New York senator, is drawing support from four in 10 women -- a block that accounted for 54 percent of the vote in 2004's key Democratic primaries. One in three of her supporters cite her experience, the most among Democrats.
"I think women relate more to the needs of people," said cashier Jadine Robinson, 52, of Magnolia, Miss.
Clinton had 33 percent in the poll; Obama 21 percent; former Vice President Al Gore, who so far is not a candidate, 20 percent; and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., 12 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
I need to question any poll that has McCain third in that group.
My point being that he should not be in the top 3.
I expect him to pass McCain by July or August easily with room to spare...
Bah! Fred Thompson is too lazy to shake anything!
All of this is just statistical noise! None of Fred’s supporters know anything about him. Fred Thompson is a gun grabbing, flip flopping liberal from Massachusetts.
—I’m JCEccles and I approved this message.
>> My point being that he should not be in the top 3.
What’s obvious to us web-fed political junkies may not be that obvious to the average Joe.
McVain is toast, but it’ll take a little time for the word to get around.
But it will.
I was just getting ready to post that. I think any numbers McCain is getting in these polls are from people that do NOT keep up with politics & his is the only name they've heard of - plus they know he was a POW. It will be very different in a voting booth with only people that actually participate in the process.
McCain is done.
I agree. His sponsorship of the amnesty bill will sink him. Major political misstep, and completely consistent with McCain's arrogant dismissal of the majority American position on illegals.
True conservatives are starting to realize that Rudy Giuliani supports gay civil unions and has funded abortion in the past.
How do you know he won't flip flop on his pledge regarding SCOTUS appointments?
ping
It could be very close between Rudy and Fred
NEWSFLASH: THE DEMS DO NOT WANT TO BE LIKE REPUBLICANS.
NEWSFLASH: THE DEMS WILL NOT DO WHAT THE GOP DID WITH THE BUSH 41 TO 43 SCENARIO.
NEWSFLASH: KOOK LIBS WANT A NEWBIE. THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE LIKE REPUBLICANS AND NOMINATE ANOTHER CLINTON.
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