US News

Mitt Romney's unsteady Republican poll standings

By Karyn Chenoweth Sep 29, 2007, 23:53 GMT

Republican Candidate for United States President Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney waves to a supporter during a break during the debate held at the University of New Hampshire in Durham New Hampshire, USA, 05 September 2007. EPA/CJ GUNTHER

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign strategists are attempting to quell fears that his campaign has ru out of steam, and assure his supporters the candidacy is stable despite placing fourth in current GOP polls.

Reuters is reporting that the Romney camp "is trying to lower expectations about his ability to win both of two key January contests, the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, saying it is doubtful he would be able to carry both."

Romney running mostly in fourth place behind Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and John McCain with less than 10 percent support in the race for the Republican nomination ahead of the November 2008 election.

A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll had him at 28 percent to 16 percent for Giuliani in Iowa, however.

The latest CNN/WMUR poll gave him just a one percentage point advantage over Giuliani, 25 percent to 24 percent, with Arizona Sen. John McCain drawing 18 percent in New Hampshire.

Romney strategist Alex Gage issued a memo regarding his percentages in the polls:

"But we should not expect him to be competitive in national polls with better-known candidates like Giuliani, Thompson or McCain until after Iowa and New Hampshire," he wrote.

Reuters reports that a Republican strategist not attached to a presidential campaign "said the Romney campaign was trying to lower expectations about Iowa and New Hampshire."

"Politics is about setting expectations, and this is Romney's attempt to lower the bar in these two states where he's done exceptionally well since the spring," the strategist said to Reuters.