Giuliani, Clinton losing ground in S.C., new poll says

New Yorkers Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton are beginning to lose ground in South Carolina, according to The Clemson University Palmetto Poll released Wednesday.

Undecided voters still make up the largest group, with nearly half of Democrats and 28 percent of Republicans saying they had yet to make up their minds.

Giuliani, the former New York mayor, has slipped to fourth in the Republican field, with 9 percent support, while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has jumped to the front of the pack at 17 percent support. The poll has a 4.62 percent margin of error.

Former Tennessee U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is in a statistical tie with Romney, at 15 percent support. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was third at 13 percent; Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain at 11 percent; and Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul at 6 percent.

For the Democrats, Clinton still leads but U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has pulled to a statistical tie. Clinton recorded 19 percent support, while Obama claimed 17 percent and former North Carolina U.S. Sen. John Edwards 12 percent.

Giuliani enjoys just half the approval he did in an August Clemson University poll, when he claimed 18 percent of voters.

Likewise, Clinton's double-digit lead has narrowed, down 7 percentage points, from 26 percent, since August.

The poll surveyed 450 voters in each party.

Comments

[GW]

This is worse news for the media than it is for any of the candidates. The news media would drool over a Hillary/Bill vs Don Giuliani campaign, which would be the political equivalent of a subway series between the Yanks and Mets, the knicks and Nets, or Gints and Jets (no poetry intended). This battle of New Yawkers would be a dream ticket played out for those of us backward hicks in the swamps to be dazzled by. Frankly, if this poll holds up neither of the two will get past the palmetto state.

[Spenser]

Unfortunately the TV media rather have glitz than substance. A lot of candidates on boths sides have enough questions surrounding them that any respectable news corp could really dig into deeply and really cause a problem for the candidates. Instead they all rally for the ratings and toss softballs and avoid the tough questions that America deserves to be asked. The days of Gary Hart getting torpedoed out of an election is overwith. When the media zero in on haircuts, Chuck Norris and cleavage and ignore the real issues, everyone in the process loses.

[Ken L]

Obama named "Man of the Year"

[GG in SC]

I'm hoping undecided voters in our State will take a close look--or a second look--at John Edwards. True, it would disappoint the talking heads on cable news who tell us daily that our next president will be one of the two "front runners."

Edwards seems to be the one viable candidate who's serious about taking on "business as usual" in Washington; he's the people's candidate, not a corporate Democrat. He's offering substantive, detailed policy proposals, is consistent in his message, and doesn't dodge hard questions. I think he would serve us well. He's the Republicans worst nightmare because they know he can win the General Election.

[spenser]

Edwards: Married, Christian Southern white man.

Giuliani: Thrice Married, religious when it suits him, amoral, adulterous, white man with a long history of cover-ups, poor decision questionable/criminal behavior, public cross-dressing and a penchant for outright lying.

Yup, I can see where the Evangelical base of the GOP would have a hard time showing up at the polls to support their man if Edwards was the opponent.

Looks like the make-up is coming off of the Giuliani pig (literally) no matter how hard Faux News tries.