Poll: Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson Tied for Republican Lead in South Carolina

The latest word on the Republican Primary race in South Carolina is that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson are tied for first place at 21%. Two months ago, Thompson had the lead all to himself at 24% while Romney was in second with 15%.

The rest of the field looks like this. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is in third place with 13%, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is next at 12%, Arizona Senator John McCain has 9%, Texas Congressman gets 8%. Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and California Congressman Duncan Hunter each get 2% and 13% are still undecided.

In South Carolina, as well as in most of the other states, the voters say they are not that firmly committed to their first choice with 68% of Romney's supporters saying they may change their minds. With the rest of the candidates, it ranges between 47% and 57%.

When the respondents were asked to give all of the candidates a favorable rating, with Giuliani it comes out like this very favorable 24%, somewhat favorable 48%, somewhat unfavorable, 18%very unfavorable, 8% and just 2% are uncertain. Thompson gets 32% very favorable, 44% somewhat favorable, 15% somewhat unfavorable, 4% very unfavorable, and 5% are uncertain. Romney 28% very favorable, 44% somewhat favorable, 17% somewhat unfavorable, 7% very unfavorable, and 4% are uncertain. McCain 19% very favorable, 41% somewhat favorable, 27% somewhat unfavorable, 12%very unfavorable, and 1% are uncertain. Huckabee 22% very favorable, 35% somewhat favorable, 20% somewhat unfavorable, 9% very unfavorable, and14% are uncertain and Paul 14% very favorable, 21% somewhat favorable, 25% somewhat unfavorable, 25%very unfavorable, and 16% are uncertain.

On the immigration issue, 66% say an officer should check the status of everyone they stop for a traffic violation . If the person is found to be in the country illegally, 55% say they should be deported. In addition , 70% are in opposition to illegal aliens being given drivers licenses. The nationwide average on this issue is 77%.

The President does very well the Republican voters in South Carolina with 72% saying he is doing either a good or excellent job, 13% say his performance is fair and 14% poor. The candidate who has the highest percentage of supporters who say the President is doing a poor job is Ron Paul.

Republican South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford does slightly better than the President with 75% of the republican voters saying he is doing a good or excellent job, 16% saying fair and 8% poor.

Source: Rasmussen Reports http://www.rasmussenreports.com/