ABC Poll: Giuliani's Lead Drops to Single Digit

Sept. 12, 2007 — -- Reminders of his leadership in the days after Sept. 11 may not be enough to guarantee Rudy Giuliani the Republican nomination.

Despite the presidential hopeful's lead among the Republican pack in recent months, the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests an unexpected down shift for the front-runner.

The former New York mayor slipped nine percentage points nationally, tumbling from 37 percent in July to 28 percent today.

Though Giuliani rated better with Republicans concerned more about major terrorist attacks, among those less focused on terrorism he is in a dead heat with former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who was the choice of 19 percent of those polled.

Giuliani's drop also may mean good news for the beleaguered Arizona Sen. John McCain, who seems to have stabilized his downward motion over the last few months. The poll has him at 18 percent. Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holds steady in the poll at 10 percent.

The change in numbers could mean that the campaign gloves will soon begin to come off. "The ones below them sort of have to take shots that they may have not taken four months ago or six months ago," said ABC News consultant Torie Clark.

While the Republican candidates have seen a change in popularity status among their base, the Democratic candidates' results have been static by comparison.

Former first lady and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has led Illinois Sen. Barack Obama by between 14 percentage points and 16 percentage points since February. Clinton garnered 41 percent while Obama had 27 percent. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards trails behind with only 14 percent.

Obama's lag in the polls didn't stop him and other candidates from trying to capitalize on Gen. David Petraeus' report on Iraq earlier this week.

"This continues to be a disastrous foreign policy mistake," Obama said.

But such critical comments may be dangerous for the front-runners, who must appear respectful to voters while still being opinionated.