Polls Show Thompson Competitive as He Prepares to Enter White House Race

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) has moved a step closer to formally announcing his bid for the White House in 2008. Twenty-two percent (22%) of Americans say they will definitely vote for him if he's on the ballot in 2008. Thirty percent (30%) will definitely vote against him. That net deficit of eight percentage points (22% for minus 30% against) is better than all other candidates in the race except for Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record). ADVERTISEMENT

Still, the actor enters the race trailing the top three Democratic candidates by 3 to 10 points.

Against New York Senator Hillary Clinton, Thompson attracts 44% of the vote. That's three less than Clinton's 47% total.

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has the biggest edge over Thompson, 47% to 37%.

While Thompson has been a movie actor and is now working on the smaller screen of television, he remains largely unknown to many Americans. Thirty-nine percent (39%) have a favorable opinion of him while 27% hold an unfavorable view. Thirty-four percent (34%) don't know enough about him to hold an opinion one way or the other.

Thompson is viewed as politically conservative by 32% of voters, moderate by 25% and liberal by 6%. Thirty-seven percent (37%) are not sure.

Among Republicans seeking the White House, Thompson is currently in fourth place behind Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain (news, bio, voting record).

Rasmussen Reports continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates along with ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports also regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics. Results for the Generic Congressional Ballot are updated monthly. The President's Job Approval ratings are updated daily.

Rasmussen Reports conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day. Recent surveys have asked about immigration, Rosie O'Donnell, the Pope's comments on pro-choice politicians, and the Supreme Court decision on partial-birth abortion. The latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

Why don’t you go ask Sen Don Nickles about FDT and how he backdoored him during Chinagate. FDT would be on one channel giving into Glenn and Levin and Nickles was carrying the water on China for the GOP on another channel. Why do you think Inhofe took to the floor of the Senate with his speech ‘Theft of Nuclear Secrets’ — because FDT was steamrolled by Glenn and the Dems is why.

FDT — co sponsor of CFR with McCain along with Susan Collins. FDT — voted against one of the articles of impeachment against Clinton. FDT — pro-choice until Frist thought he should run in TN for pro-life for a full term. He served out only two years of Gore’s term and one full term and when he left the Senate said he was bored and wanted to get back to acting.

Raised little money in TN to campaign as he didn’t need much — running a nationwide race versus a TN race is world’s apart. Wants to defend America not go on the offense. FDT decided not to run 30 days before filing just like a lot of others in Congress in 2002 — you might want to ask yourself why — Dems sure have the answer and so do a lot of us. That is really a team player not to let the Party get a jump on a race because you cannot decide if you are running or not.

I don’t agree with Rudy 100% but he doesn’t go around flip flopping. Good old boy doesn’t work in a national race and you have to wonder it is good old boy the actor or real.

Someone that wants to get in the race and not be begged would already be in the race right now. I think it is affront to the 10 candidates what FDT and Newt are doing with playing around drawing headlines. Laughable part was he wants to talk to 100 people to get them to raise $50,000. Am sure Romney, Rudy, and McCain had a good laugh at that one along with some other candidates who are out there day in and day out busting themselves running.

Don’t want to hear about contractual obligations because the college coaches get out of contracts every day if they want another job bad enough.

Dems have it right about his record in the Senate whether you like it or not. Common theme when you google was that he was a lazy Senator and bored. Did I mention he was one of only four Senators to support McCain in 2000 and he is one reason why Inhofe endorsed Pres Bush and went around campaigning in the primary. I have some pretty smart Senators who care and spend hours reading bills not being told how to vote by someone like Frist. Senators have basically no executive experience.

Common talking point. Everyone even uses the exact word 'steamrolled'. Interesting. Fred should answer for it and let us know what he was thinking back then.

FDT — co sponsor of CFR with McCain along with Susan Collins.

This is well known and his position on it has been explained in depth. He has since said that CFR did not do what it was intended to do. He stopped short of calling for an all-out repeal, but he came close. But you knew that already, because all you are doing is trolling.

FDT — voted against one of the articles of impeachment against Clinton.

This has also been explained and Fred actually published a paper on why he voted the way he did back then. His reasoning on why he voted the way he did was IMHO unimpeachable, no pun intended. But you knew that already, because all you are doing is trolling.

FDT — pro-choice until Frist thought he should run in TN for pro-life for a full term.

First I've heard of this. Link please? Can't produce one? You know you can't, because, yes, that's right, you guessed it, all you're doing is trolling.

He served out only two years of Gore’s term and one full term and when he left the Senate said he was bored and wanted to get back to acting.

His daughter died unexpectedly, which brought about his leaving the senate. Nothing to do with being 'bored'. But you knew that already, because all you are doing is trolling.

Raised little money in TN to campaign as he didn’t need much — running a nationwide race versus a TN race is world’s apart.

He raised enough to win by 20 points. Your wisdom about running a nationwide race being different than TN is amazing. You should be one of them there advisors for one of them there PO-litical candidates.

Wants to defend America not go on the offense.

LOL...that's rich. No evidence of this. In fact, there's overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But you knew that already, because all you are doing is trolling.

FDT decided not to run 30 days before filing just like a lot of others in Congress in 2002 — you might want to ask yourself why —

Because his daughter died. You are truly a despicable human being.

I don’t agree with Rudy 100%

Those are the magic words.

but he doesn’t go around flip flopping.

ROFLMAO!!!!!! No other comment necessary.

Good old boy doesn’t work in a national race and you have to wonder it is good old boy the actor or real.

Same argument was made before he trounced his previous opponents by 20 points.

I'd quote the rest of your silliness, but it isn't worth wasting the bandwidth.

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