Second national poll confirms Fred Thompson's rising fortunes

By BILL THEOBALD Gannett News Service

WASHINGTON ? A second national poll shows former Sen. Fred Thompson in third place among Republican voters in the race for the GOP presidential nomination.

Thompson was chosen by 14 percent of likely Republican primary voters, behind former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani at 26 percent and Arizona Sen. John McCain at 16 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is fourth at 11 percent, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 8 percent.

The poll of 590 likely GOP primary voters was conducted by Rasmussen March 26-29 and has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Rasmussen conducts weekly polls on the possible presidential candidates and included Thompson in the mix for the first time. Last week, the Rasmussen poll found Giuliani at 35 percent, McCain at 15 percent and Gingrich at 11 percent.

Among voters who identify themselves as very conservative, Thompson with 19 percent ranks a close second to Giuliani at 20 percent.

Thompson last month he may run for president setting off a rash of publicity and a third place ranking in last week's USA Today/Gallup Poll.

That, in turn, generated more attention for a possible Thompson run.