According to a recent poll by the University of Iowa:

THE NUMBERS — REPUBLICANS

Mitt Romney, 36 percent

Rudy Giuliani, 13 percent

Mike Huckabee, 13 percent

Fred Thompson, 11 percent

John McCain, 6 percent

Mitt Romney continues to hold a strong lead in Iowa among candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination. But Mike Huckabee's Iowa numbers -- buoyed, perhaps, by growing support among Evangelical Christians -- have jumped significantly since August, putting him in a near-tie with Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, according to a new University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll of likely GOP caucus-goers released today, Monday, Oct. 29, 2007.

Despite Giuliani's lead in most national polls, Romney holds a strong lead in Iowa at 36.2 percent, with Giuliani second at 13.1 percent, Huckabee third with 12.8 percent and Thompson fourth at 11.4 percent. John McCain has 6.0 percent.

With all of the buildup surrounding what was a "potential candidacy". Fred Thompson's actual candidacy has been rather uninspiring. His debate performances haven't been terrible...but they haven't been great either. If you enter the race late, and are polling between 3rd and 4th place, a series of so-so debate performances isn't going to help you out. I know the Fred!heads will probably make excuses for him, saying things like, "Well that's just his style."

Fred's "style" seems boring, uninspiring, and lazy. In such a sub-par field of candidates, Fred should be winning this nomination walking away. But being so-so hasn't worked so well.