Romney, Clinton Frontrunners in Big First 3

Republican Mitt Romney now leads in all three early primary states, according to a new batch of polls from the American Research Group.

IOWA GOP
Mitt Romney 27%
Mike Huckabee 19%
Rudy Giuliani 16%
John McCain 14%

N.H. GOP
Mitt Romney 30%
Rudy Giuliani 23%
John McCain 15%

S.C. GOP
Mitt Romney 29%
Rudy Giuliani 23%
John McCain 13%
Fred Thompson 10%

Notes: This batch of polls is very good news for Romney, but maybe even more notable -- terrible for Fred Thompson. Thompson's luster seems to have fallen off over the past few weeks. He's lost his lead in critical South Carolina and is in double-digits nowhere else. This is the first poll I've seen that Romney has lead in South Carolina -- and Rudy can't afford to get beat by Romney in all 3. McCain polls a bit higher here in Iowa, compared to other polls there. But with turnout unpredictable, is any poll in Iowa really valid? Huckabee sure hopes so. Because he's moved into second-place now in the Hawkeye State, and is eyeing an upset.

IOWA DEMS
Hillary Clinton 32%
Barack Obama 22%
John Edwards 15%

N.H. DEMS
Hillary Clinton 40%
Barack Obama 22%
John Edwards 10%

S.C. DEMS
Hillary Clinton 41%
Barack Obama 19%
John Edwards 18%

Notes: It still appears that Hillary is most vulnerable in Iowa, however her lead is larger here than the University of Iowa poll released yesterday. For Edwards, it's all about Iowa, so the question is whether he continues to strike at Clinton or maybe looks to instead target his efforts against Obama? There are some Democrats who just don't believe Hillary holds these large leads anywhere . . . that they can't be true. That argument seems more feasible on the Republican side, where things are very fluid. But how do you dismiss poll after poll after poll of double-digit advantages?