Clinton, Thompson lead polls in Nevada

WASHINGTON – Actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson leads the Republican presidential field in Nevada even though he has not declared his candidacy, according to a poll made available to McClatchy Newspapers and NBC News.

The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research showed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton with a substantial lead over her Democratic rivals.

Nevada could have an influential role in selecting the presidential nominees in 2008 because the state will hold its nominating caucuses on Jan. 19 – five days after Iowa and three days before New Hampshire’s primary.

Thompson’s strength in Nevada, which mirrors his recent surge in national polls, underscores his potential to shake up the Republican race if he decides to run. The former Tennessee senator is recruiting a campaign staff and testing his appeal as a candidate.

The poll showed Thompson with 25 percent support among Republicans who are considered likely to attend a nominating caucus, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 20 percent, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 17 percent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona with 8 percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 3 percent.

On the Democratic side, Clinton led with 39 percent, followed by Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois with 17 percent, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina with 12 percent, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson with 7 percent and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware with 2 percent.