http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/13/opinion/polls/main3162457.shtmlYes it's early, but that's when enough perceptions are formed and loyalties hardened to make a difference.
Where Mittens would
not be a formidable adversary (he's already battling the label of "flip-flopper" on abortion, "animal abuser" for strapping his dog to the roof of his car for a 12-hour family trip, and "big insensitive dumb-ass" for implying that like our soldiers in Iraq, his 5 sons are performing a "service to their country" by campaigning for him!) Giuliani is defying expectations and
gaining support for his candidacy among groups that traditionally wouldn't support him. That Saint of 9-11 shit really goes over among the traumatized, terra-fied masses.
Buttressing Mitt (or McCain) by attacking Giuliani with new vigor would be wise. Giuliani is looking more like a 'Teflon' candidate-- if RWers and Fundies are getting on board, and enough moderates and Independents are impressed, we are in trouble, folks.
The above is my opinion, of course.
CBS) According to a new CBS News poll out Monday, Rudy Giuliani retains a significant lead nationally among Republican primary voters in the race to become the party’s presidential nominee.
In all, 38 percent of Republican primary voters favor the former New York City mayor, a slight increase from last month. Senator-turned-actor Fred Thompson is next; he's favored by 18 percent of Republican primary voters, a seven-point drop from last month. Thompson has yet to officially announce his candidacy.
The third choice, at 13 percent, is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who improved five points from one month ago. He was followed by Arizona Sen. John McCain, who came in at 12 percent.
Republican primary voters appear to be growing more content with the Republican candidates for president: 46 percent say they are satisfied with their choices, up from 36 percent a month ago and 30 percent in June. But 49 percent say they are not satisfied.
Giuliani, defying conventional wisdom, continues to show strength among groups not expected to be favorable towards his candidacy. He leads the field among conservatives, those who live in the South and West, evangelical Christians, and voters who think that a candidate's personal life should be a factor in deciding whom to support.