Giuliani Notes: Rudy 25% Romney 16% McCain 15% Thompson 12% in Latest Rasmussen National GOP Poll

Rasmussen Reports: 2008 Republican Presidential Primary

Romney Catches McCain in National Poll for GOP Nomination

The immigration reform debate may be shaking up the race for the Republican Presidential nomination. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has inched past Arizona Senator John McCain for second place in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll. Just two weeks ago, Romney was in fourth place among GOP hopefuls.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top with 25% support. That’s essentially unchanged from last week. In fact, Giuliani has been at 25% or 26% in the polls for four straight weeks.

This week, Giuliani is followed by Romney at 16%, McCain at 15%, and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson at 12%. While Romney’s one-point edge over McCain is statistically insignificant, it’s worth noting that McCain had a six-point advantage over Romney just two weeks ago.

McCain, once considered the dominant frontrunner, has been strongly supportive of the immigration reform bill being debated in the Senate. That bill is unpopular with the general public—just 26% of voters favor its passage.

The GOP NUTS:

Rudy continues to lead by almost double digits as he has for months. Yet, the big news is McCain’s collapse and the rise of Mitt Romney.

Why?

Probably a number of factors:

1. McCain’s support of an unpopular Senate Illegal Immigration AMNESTY Bill

Romney has announced his strong opposition to the immigration bill and Giuliani called it a “hodgepodge… without any central focus.” Thompson said “We should scrap this bill and the whole debate until we can convince the American people that we have secured the borders or at least have made great headway.” Most Americans are willing to support an enforcement-only approach at this time.

2. Romney is on-air in a number of early primary states

3. McCain’s FLIP remarks about Bombing Iran among others

4. Fred Thompson’s “supposed” candidacy

Although Romney’s lead is statistically insignificant, will this spur Fred Thompson into the race, replacing McCain?

In the short term, how will this affect McCain’s second quarter fundraising?

Stay tuned…….

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