South Carolina Republican Primary: Huckabee 23% Romney 23% Fred Thompson 12%

Rasmussen Reports ^ | December 17, 2007 | Rasmussen Reports

[JCEccles]

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are tied for the lead in South Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows both Huckabee and Romney with 23% of the vote followed by John McCain at 12%, Fred Thompson at 12%, . . .

[JCEccles]

Huck appears to have peaked in South Carolina; Mitt's support continues to climb.

[samtheman]

I’m no big fan of Mitt but all I can say is: whew!

Any drop in Huckabee’s numbers is good news for America.

[Resolute Conservative]

Huckabee would be worse for the party than Rudy if he gets the nod.

[JCEccles]

Huck’s trending down (-2), Fred’s trending down (-6), but Mitt is up a solid five points since the last Rasmussen SC poll.

[samtheman]

Huckabee is now viewed favorably by 66% of Likely Republican Primary Voters. That’s down slightly from 70% two weeks ago but still up from 57% favorable a month ago. The current figures include 34% with a Very Favorable opinion of Huckabee.

So many Republicans so deeply misled.

The pardons and clemencies mean nothing to them?

The mountain of tax-increases mean nothing to them?

The Reagan coalition is breaking up.

[ellery]

More, from the article:

The race remains potentially very fluid. Just 51% of Huckabee’s supporters in the Palmetto State say they are certain they will vote for him. Only 41% of Romney’s voters are that certain. Thompson has the most solid base—59% of his voters are certain along with 55% of McCain’s voters and 53% of Giuliani supporters.

[tlj18]

Fred Thompson’s dead if he doesn’t win South Carolina.

[socialismisinsidious]

Scary isn’t it? And Romney isn’t much better. Really scary.

[Crimson Elephant]

I think this shows that Fred DID get in too late. Huckabee is getting the support that would have went to Fred either without Huckabee in the race, or perhaps if Fred was in earlier.

[LS]

It's truly amazing. At first Huck took votes mostly from Mitt and Fred; now he's taking exclusively from Rudy. Fred cannot get any traction in any of this, though.

Certainly if Mitt is the candidate I'll work for him. But just once I'd like for him to say, "If an Islamo-fascist comes within 100 miles of my family, I'll shoot him between the eyes."

[samtheman]

There’s still time for Fred. But he has to come out swinging. He needs to knock somebody out.

[LexBaird]

The race remains potentially very fluid. Just 51% of Huckabee’s supporters in the Palmetto State say they are certain they will vote for him. Only 41% of Romney’s voters are that certain. Thompson has the most solid base—59% of his voters are certain along with 55% of McCain’s voters and 53% of Giuliani supporters.

So, solid base, actual numbers:

Huck: 11.73%
Mitt: 9.43%
Fred: 7.08%
McCain: 6.6%
Rudy: 5.83%

That leaves about 60% willing to change their minds or uncommitted.

[Ol' Sparky]

A name is conspicuously missing from the list...Rudy, er, Giuliani. Is he still running?

And, there is nothing good about Flip rising in any poll. Maybe he'll end up having a good cry over it, though.

[LexBaird]

Rudy got edited off. The link has him at 11%.

[LexBaird]

Also, Paul at 5%, Duncan Hunter and Tancredo at 1% each.

[Tulane]

Has Huckabee ever been anything other than a minister or a politician? Has he ever built a business? These are not rhetorical questions...I’d really like to know the answers.

[Route66]

That’s the most useful set of numbers we’ve seen yet. Bottom line...More than half of the support is soft and the firm support shows a fairly tight race. We are trying to weigh vapor in these polls.

[Ol' Sparky]

There is plenty of skeletons in the Mitt Wit’s closet just ready to come out if he assumes frontrunner status!

[Ol' Sparky]

At first Huck took votes mostly from Mitt and Fred; now he's taking exclusively from Rudy.

And, I think most here would agree that is good news.

[tompster76]

big surprise is that fred is still in double-digits in SC and ahead of ron paul. I’ll make a bold prediction and say fred beats ron paul in at least 2 states!