I didn’t see Rick Perry in that poll and I’ve seen him in others. Same with Giuliani. I believe in one CNN poll he came in 2nd or 3rd. I’m not suggesting this poll has more/less meaning than others. However this poll does tell me that unless Pawlenty really steps it up he’s toast. He’s been in Iowa for over a month now and can’t register more than 6% in a poll.
Perry, Giuliani and even TPaw have all been inconsequential blips in the polls. Palin is #1 or #2, with no close #3, whenever she is included now—and she hasn’t even declared. Any poll that doesn’t include her is of minimal, contingent value. And it has probably been designed for anti-Palin propaganda reasons.
By traditional standards (that is, regularly polling in the teens with all major prospective candidates included at this stage in the race) it is a two-person contest between Romney and Palin.