Rasmussen: Mitt now seen as most conservative Republican

Which isn’t to say he’s seen as being the most conservative philosophically, merely that he’s now identified as a conservative by more Republican voters than any other candidate. Romney at 46, Fred at 40, Huck at 38. The good news for Team Romney? Mitt was at 36% only a month ago. The bad news?

Moving up fast in the competition for most conservative contender is Mike Huckabee. Thirty-eight percent (38%) now view him as politically conservative, twenty percent (20%) say moderate, and 6% liberal (see crosstabs). In July, before the Huckabee boomlet began, just 21% viewed him as conservative while 27% said moderate or liberal.

Huckabee is still less well known than the other contenders and 36% of Republican voters do not know enough to offer an opinion on his ideology.

Huck obviously can’t compete with Mitt financially so his campaign hangs on the evangelical endorsement. If Dobson et al. anoint him, it could make him competitive in Iowa and the buzz from that would carry over to New Hampshire and South Carolina. If they don’t, he’s done. And speaking of done, today’s big pro-life endorsement notwithstanding, anyone heard from Fred lately? Here’s the Boston Globe describing his campaign strategy:

Lacy said the campaign’s strategy is to do well in Iowa, which on Jan. 3 holds the first nominating contest, and to have enough resources in New Hampshire to benefit from an Iowa bump. The campaign then hopes for a strong showing in South Carolina, which votes Jan. 19 and which the campaign hopes will be a better fit for Thompson’s Southern roots and conservative stands, followed by victories in other Southern states, including those voting among more than 20 states holding primaries on Feb. 5.

Iowa’s less than two months away and he’s in fourth place in the last four polls taken — fifth place if you choose to believe ARG. It’s hard to see how he makes a dent in either Mitt or Huckabee between now and then. Meanwhile, check out South Carolina, where he was polling in the mid-20s shortly after he announced and now finds himself in the low 20s or high teens, in a virtual dead heat with Mitt and Rudy and vulnerable to Huck if Huck beats him in Iowa (which is likely). Exit question one: How do things get better for Fred? Exit question two: With Mitt having momentum, is it any wonder his staffers are telling him to ush-hay about his ormonism-May?