SC-2008: Obama and Thompson lead in polls

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there.  We're lite on posts today, but we'll be back up to full speed at midnight eastern tonight with the nightowl clips.

Meanwhile, new NBC poll numbers are in from South Carolina, which are great news for Obama and Thompson.  Obama, within the last month, has vaulted ahead of Clinton.  Here are the numbers.  First, the Democrats:

South Carolina Democrats
Barack Obama - 35%
Hillary Clinton - 24%
John Edwards - 12%
Joe Biden - 2%
Undecided - 24%

Now to the Republicans.  Thompson, who is scheduled to announce his run for the White House in July, leads Giuliani, Romney and McCain:

South Carolina Republicans
Fred Thompson - 25%
Rudolph Giuliani - 21%
Mitt Romney - 11%
John McCain - 7%
Mike Huckabee - 5%
Undecided - 28%

Maybe it's not some coincidence that the two candidates on top, Obama and Thompson, are thought of as Washington-outsiders.  People on both sides of the spectrum are sick of business as usual in Washington and want change.

Comments

[George]

is it me or are the Dem polls all over the place? sometimes i see Hillary with commanding leads then other times it seem Obama is making progress. I dont know. I dont see how people can think Hillary is better than Obama. I dont get it.

[granny]

It may be the "women's" vote - vocal right now, but I'm skeptical that that will out vote the majority at the polls...if it comes to that.

I think it's not a smart bet, in other words.

[Robt]

There might be some discontent with Washington insiders, as you call them. But Thompson is viewed as an insider.

And if that insider Al Gore gets in the race? Will that discontent with insiders wane?

[Chief Editor: Todd]

I don't think much Democratic voters would consider Al Gore a Washington insider, nor would most conservatives view Thompson as an insider.

The phrase "Washington insider" doesn't necessarily mean someone has been in Washington. Like, for example, Mitt Romney is perceived by many conservatives as a Washington insider. Yes, he is from Massachusetts. But he walks, talks and behaves like those from Washington that will say anything to get elected -- which explains why he has changed his mind more than he has gone hunting.

Giuliani is also a Washington insider. Again, is not from Washingon. But he has been a steadfast supporter of some of the many destructive Bush policies -- like Iraq, for example.

Ron Paul, who has been in Washington since the 90s, is a Washington outsider because he has opposed just about everything that pertains to the status quo.

[Me]

People think Hillary is better than Obama for a reason. She has experience. He can talk very very well. I think he is incredibly smart, and will be president someday, but today is not that day. He has no experience, and she is very smart as well.