Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Fred Thompson’s poll numbers continuing to climb. The poll, released this morning, has former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 26 percent, down 9 points from last week's survey, which didn't include Thompson.

Arizona Sen. John McCain was in second at 16 percent, with Thompson nipping at his heels at 14 percent, comfortably ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 8 percent.

"This is one more indication that voters are gravitating with enthusiasm to Senator Thompson," said Dean Rice, treasurer of the Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee. "Voters know what they want in a president and these numbers show it just may be Fred Thompson."

A.C. Kleinheider calls the poll "good news for McCain." But I don't see how campaigning for months and spending lots of money to come in two points ahead of a guy who hasn't raised a dime or even entered the race is good news. For the once-crowned "front runner," McCain sure seems to be going backward. And now Giuliani is too. And Romney, who seems stuck in the single digits in most polls.

The only candidate, er, possible candidate, moving forward is Fred Thompson.