Thompson, Clinton ahead in latest S.C. poll

Fred Thompson, who is officially launching his presidential bid today, leads in a new poll in South Carolina.

Thompson, the well-known actor and former Tennessee senator, received the support of 19 percent of Republicans surveyed in the Clemson University Palmetto Poll.

Rudy Giuliani, the national front-runner in most polls, was second with 18 percent, and John McCain was third with 15 percent.

Mitt Romney was fourth with 11 percent, but the August poll suggested he could grow his support -- he is much better known than a similar poll in October 2006 and is seen far more favorably as well.

Twenty percent of Republicans said they were still undecided. The South Carolina GOP primary has gained some prominence since party officials moved it up in the election calendar to Jan. 19.

Among S.C. Democrats, who are scheduled to go to the polls on Jan. 29, Hillary Clinton has a healthy lead over Barack Obama, 26 percent to 16 percent. Among African-American voters, who typically make up half the turnout, she leads 28 percent to 23 percent, according to the poll.

John Edwards, the former senator from neighboring North Carolina who won the South Carolina primary in 2004, was third with 10 percent. Of Democrats surveyed, 35 percent said they were undecided.