Thompson running third in Zogby poll

American Research Group has Thompson running 4th in Texas, 3rd in Iowa.

FROM USA TODAY:
"Chosen by 12% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters, Thompson is third in the Republican field, jumping ahead of a half-dozen contenders. He trails former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, at 31%, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, at 22%. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich is at 8%.
One reason for Thompson's fast start is name identification, says Republican strategist Rich Galen. "More people watch him every week on TV than will vote in total next Feb. 5," he says, the day of primaries in about a dozen states."

"Galen also notes, however, that neither Giuliani nor Clinton can yet claim the allegiance of a majority. "In both parties, at least two-thirds of the members are looking for alternatives or at least options," he says. That provides an opening for contenders such as Thompson or Gore who aren't running — at least so far."

"Thompson gained ground as Giuliani lost it. In the USA TODAY Poll taken March 2-4, Giuliani was at 44%, 13 percentage points higher than in the new survey. McCain had been at 20%, 2 points lower than now."