Polls go up and down. But after drifting within 5 pts on the RealClearPolitics.com average of polls Rudy is now close to 10%. ( I hesitate to put too much emphasis on the RCP national average since it includes the Rasmussen poll which does not make it methodology clear and is exceptionally volatile.) Looking at one recent poll says something perhaps about what has happened since Thompson entered. The ARG poll narrowed to just 1 pt.shortly after Thompson entered the race. Now Rudy’s lead is up to 8pts.(To a lesser extent the same is seen in Gallup which narrowed to 8 pts. and then bounced back to 12pts.) The reverse gender gap which I have referred to is on display–Thompson narrowly beats Rudy among men but does very poorly with women. Rudy does exceptionally well with women. We’ll see if this shows up in other polling.

Meanwhile where are the candidates going after the Republican Jewish Coalition and Club for Growth Events in DC this week? Romney is heading back to Iowa, no doubt wanting to make sure that a hard couple of weeks won’t hurt him where he can’t afford to lose. Rudy will be there as well and is then going on to Minnesota and Illinois ( both Feb. 5 states) and Florida. Where will Thompson go when he gets back on the trail after the Florida debate?(He will go back on the trail, right?) I’m guessing South Carolina, Iowa and Florida –places he needs to do well.