In South Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary, the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds Fred Thompson leading Rudy Giuliani 24% to 20%. That’s little changed from a month ago when Thompson held a 23% to 21% advantage. Mitt Romney has moved into third place and is now supported by 15% of South Carolina’s Likely Primary Voters while John McCain is barely in double digits at 11% support.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee earns 3% of the South Carolina vote while four other candidates split 5% and 22% are undecided.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of the state’s Republican Primary voters say that Giuliani is at least somewhat likely to win the White House if he becomes the Republican nominee. Fifty-seven percent (57%) say the same about Thompson. Just 48% think Romney is at least somewhat likely to win it all and only 39% have such confidence in McCain. Nationally, Giuliani is seen as the most electable Republican and Thompson as the most conservative.

Just 19% of South Carolina’s Republican Primary voters believe Thompson waited too long to enter the race. Three times as many, 57%, believe that the other candidates started campaigning too soon. A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 56% of voters say the campaign so far has been annoying and a waste of time.

Giuliani is viewed favorably by 71% of the state’s likely primary voters, Thompson by 70%. A month ago, Giuliani was viewed favorably by 76%, Thompson by 68%. Twenty-six percent (26%) have an unfavorable opinion of the former New York City Mayor while 20% offer a negative assessment of Thompson.

Romney is viewed favorably by 62%, unfavorably by 29%. The perceptions of McCain are more harsh—56% favorable and 40% unfavorable.

While Thompson holds a slight lead in South Carolina, Romney leads in New Hampshire, and Giuliani in Florida. The “leads” in all three states are in mid-single digits meaning that the race remains amazingly fluid and competitive. Thompson and Giuliani lead in national polling but there is no clear frontrunner.

In South Carolina, Thompson leads by ten among men but Giuliani has a two-point advantage among women. Thompson leads by ten among conservatives while Giuliani leads among the smaller number of moderates and liberal Republicans. These patterns are similar to what is found in national polling on the race.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll is updated daily by noon Eastern.

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