McCain Takes National Lead; Giuliani Plummets

A new poll shows John McCain ahead nationally among Republicans for the first time in a year, and a sliding Rudy Giuliani at his lowest mark in months. McCain is favored by 22% of GOP voters, with Giuliani at 20%, Mike Huckabee at 17%, and Mitt Romney at 12%. Giuliani has fallen 13 points in Pew’s poll since September, MSNBC reports.

 “The drop in support for Giuliani has occurred across all segments of the GOP electorate,” the poll report says, with both the moderate and conservative GOP wings walking away from the candidate. Talking Points Memo notes the dire straits of America’s Mayor in Iowa ahead of tomorrow’s caucuses: Giuliani’s 5.6% rating there is even fainter than Ron Paul’s 7.1%. (More John McCain stories.)