[CharlesWayneCT]

The Post's last national poll suggests that McCain may gain a very slight boost from Thompson's departure. If Thompson is eliminated and his supporters' second choices are re-allocated, that poll showed McCain leading the Republican field with 30% -- 2% higher than he received with Thompson included in the ballot test. The only other candidate to make gains with the reallocation of Thompson supporters was Giuliani, who went from 15% with Thompson in to 18% with him out.

This doesn't make sense to me. Thompson was at better than 10% in the poll. Unless most of his supporters said they had NO 2nd place, it seems all the other candidates should have gone up by a total of 10% or more.

But they only showed a total of 5% boost in other candidates.

[freespirited]

This doesn't make sense to me. Thompson was at better than 10% in the poll. Unless most of his supporters said they had NO 2nd place, it seems all the other candidates should have gone up by a total of 10% or more. But they only showed a total of 5% boost in other candidates.

Good point. Depending on when the poll was taken, maybe a couple percentage points went to Duncan Hunter and they didnt include him because he has now dropped out? But I cant imagine that would explain the entire 5 pct points. Something is not right, or a lot of Fred folks had no second choice.