Latest Poll Shows GOP Race Narrowing

The latest Gallup poll released today reveals a Republican race for President that has tightened considerably.

Republican Presidential Nomination Preference (without Newt Gingrich) Sept. 14-16, 2007
	%
Rudy Giuliani	30
Fred Thompson	22
John McCain	18
Mitt Romney	7
Ron Paul	4
Mike Huckabee	4
Duncan Hunter	2
Sam Brownback	2
Tom Tancredo	1
Other	1
None/no opinion	10

After a small bounce as a result of his Ames straw poll win, Romney has plunged back into single digits with Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee gaining on him. For all the money has has raised and lent his own campaign, Romney still doesn't seem to be picking up much support nationally, although he continues to lead in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and Michigan.

Meanwhile, Fred Thompson and John McCain continue their surge, drawing support away from both Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. But McCain is having a huge problem raising money. And just yesterday, he lost another important staffer in the communications end of the campaign.

But perhaps the biggest blow to McCain's candidacy is expected to come tomorrow when Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox will resign as chairman of the Senator's Michigan campaign.

A meltdown in Michigan could presage the early demise of the McCain effort nationally, since Michigan was the one big state the Arizona senator won, with independents' help, in his 2000 GOP nomination contest with George W. Bush.

The McCain campaign is also struggling nationally, having overspent early and been forced to fire most of its staff. "The organization is non-existent — it's not raising money, Mr. Cox complained to a fellow Michigan Republican, who in turn spoke with The Times.

A McCain insider told The Times today that the McCain campaign's financial woes nationwide are so deep that "John isn't going to make it without taking [federal] matching funds. He's just not raising the money."

With McCain's candidacy on life support, Fred Thompson woke up today to a brutal hit piece by Dick Morris, proving that the closer you are to the top, the bigger target you become:

In his first week of campaigning, Thompson has shown that he has neither the substance nor the experience that is essential for a serious presidential candidate. One wonders what makes him — and his supporters — think that he is, in any way, up to the job.

He skipped the New Hampshire debate last week and he’s passing on a candidate forum in Fort Lauderdale next week. But given his air-headed performances in public so far, he ought to stay away. Far away. Maybe after a few more years of briefings, he might be ready — but, he’s definitely not presidential material right now. In several recent public appearances, he’s shown his complete lack of understanding about critical policy issues.

Morris's long indictment should give plenty of fodder for other GOP candidates to use as well as supply Democrats with a handy list of talking points about Thompson if he should get the nomination.

Less than 4 months away from the first primaries and the GOP race continues to be in flux. It is a possibility that by the end of the month Newt Gingrich will also throw his hat into the ring. But that scenario seems to be getting less and less probable the more Thompson surges to the front.