Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are the clear front-runners for the GOP nod for president in 2012, at 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee also drew double-digit numbers, at 12 percent, according to a new Gallup poll.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich snagged 9 percent and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, 7 percent, in the poll, released Thursday.
The preferences were relatively similar among conservative and moderate to liberal Republicans, Gallup reported.
“Romney and Palin are the top choices of both conservative and moderate or liberal Republicans, and in fact, their support is similar among both groups,” Gallup reported. “Of the top five candidates, Huckabee receives support that is most divided along ideological lines. He gets significantly more support among conservative Republicans.”
Gallup conducted the poll Sept. 25-26, asking Republicans and Republican-leaning independents which of 12 possible candidates they would be most likely to support for the party's nomination. All 12 candidates are thought to be seriously considering presidential campaigns, and many have visited Iowa and New Hampshire, the states holding the first nominating contests.
In addition to Romney, Palin, Huckabee, Gingrich and Paul, other candidates surveyors named to those taking the poll are Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour at 3 percent apiece, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels got 2 percent apiece, while Indiana Rep. Mike Pence and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson received 1 percent apiece. In addition, 1 percent of those polled volunteered the name of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Full results of the poll can be seen at
www.gallup.com.
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