Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republican voters see Rudy Giuliani as politically moderate or liberal. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say the same about John McCain while 43% hold that view of Mitt Romney. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% now see Mike Huckabee as moderate or liberal and 39% see Fred Thompson in that manner. (see crosstabs)

For all the candidates except John McCain, those figures are higher than a month ago.

Huckabee has seen the biggest jump—15 percentage points (41% now while a month ago 26% said he was moderate or liberal). Still, 43% view him a politically conservative (up five points from a month ago). While Republican voters are evenly divided on his ideology, Fred Thompson is the only candidate seen as more conservative.

Romney is now viewed as politically conservative by 38% of Republican voters and moderate or liberal by 43%. Those figures reflect an eight-point decline in the number seeing him as conservative and a ten-point increase in the number seeing him as moderate or liberal. In terms of how he is perceived by Republican voters, Romney is ideologically in the center among the top Republican candidates—Thompson and Huckabee are seen as more conservative, McCain and Giuliani as more moderate or liberal.

Thompson is once again seen as the most conservative candidate in the Republican field—50% of Republican voters say he is politically conservative while 39% say moderate or liberal. While Thompson’s campaign has disappointed many of his early supporters and is reportedly low on cash, the perception that he is the most conservative candidate gives him one potential asset heading in to primary season.

Giuliani has always been considered politically moderate or liberal by most Republican voters and that perception has been growing even more pronounced in recent months. Just 21% of GOP voters view him as politically conservative while 74% say he is moderate or liberal. That latter figure is up from 70% a month ago.

McCain is now seen as politically conservative by 31% of Republicans, up from 28% a month ago. The number seeing him as moderate or liberal is down to 59% from 64% in November. Among all voters, McCain now has the highest favorable ratings of all Presidential candidates in either party and the lowest level of core opposition. As noted in a recent analysis, it’s a good time to be John McCain, He has increased his support in Iowa and is within a few points of the lead in New Hampshire.

Overall, this Rasmussen Reports polling data highlights one key reason that there is no frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination. Only one of their leading candidates is seen by half the party’s voters as politically conservative… and his campaign has been lackluster at best to this point in time. On top of that, as the campaign has dragged on, a growing share of Republican voters have come to believe that their other leading candidates are either politically moderate or liberal. In a political party that leans in the conservative direction, that’s sure to create some tension and frustration.

Among all voters nationwide, as opposed to just Republicans, Thompson is viewed as conservative by 45%, Huckabee by 43%, and Romney by 42%. McCain is seen as conservative by 31% and Giuliani by 29%. Perceptions of John McCain are fairly consistent across party lines and he is seen as politically moderate by more voters than any other candidate in either party (45%).

Looking at the public perceptions of Democratic Presidential contenders, 82% of Republicans consider Senator Hillary Clinton as politically liberal.

Only 30% of Democrats agree.

Among Republican voters, Ron Paul is viewed as politically conservative by 24%, moderate or liberal by 40%, and 35% are not sure.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.