Thompson tops GOP hopefuls in state poll

Fred owns the South...

MONTGOMERY - Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee is the leading candidate for president among Alabamians likely to vote in the Republican primary next year, a new poll shows.

The Capital Survey Research Center, an arm of the Alabama Education Association teachers lobby, conducted the poll July 11-13 and July 16-19.

It also showed that support for Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, fueled by a jump in support among blacks, has grown since a similar poll in May among Alabamians likely to vote in the Democratic presidential primary. Support for Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York has stagnated, and the race between them is a statistical dead heat.

He still hasn't officially declared himself a candidate. But in the July poll, 34 percent of those likely to vote in the Feb. 5 Republican primary said they would cast ballots for Thompson if the election were today.

That compares with 20 percent support for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, down from 29 percent in May; 11 percent for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, down from 23 percent; 7 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, down from 15 percent; and 5 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who got 7 percent in May.

Also this from Rasmussen:

Florida: Giuliani 22% Thompson 21%

The Republican Presidential Primary in Florida is looking a lot like the race nationally. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is on top in the Sunshine State with 22% support and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson is close behind at 21%. Arizona Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are tied for third at 13%.

In Rasmussen Reports national polling, Thompson holds a slight edge over Giuliani. In both the national and Florida polling, Thompson leads among conservatives and Giuliani leads among moderates.