Romney Edges Perry in New Reason-Rupe Poll (Palin in third!)

Reason Magazine ^ | August 25, 2011 | Emily Ekins & Joshua Swain

[2ndDivisionVet]

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holds a 20 percent to 18 percent edge over Texas Gov. Rick Perry among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters in the latest Reason-Rupe Public Opinion Survey.

Two potential candidates not currently in the race, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (12%) and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (8%), placed third and fourth among Republicans asked to name whom they would favor if the GOP primary were held today. They were followed by Rep. Michele Bachmann (8%), Rep. Ron Paul (7%), Herman Cain (4%), Newt Gingrich (3%), former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (2%, but no longer in the race), former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (1%), former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (<1%), and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (<1%). Approximately 16% of Republican voters are undecided.

This Reason-Rupe poll surveyed a random, national sample of 1,200 adults by telephone (790 on landlines, 410 on cell phones) over August 9-18, 2011. The overall results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. The GOP presidential primary poll question surveyed 419 adults who self-identified as Republican and "lean-Republican"; that specific question has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points....

[5thGenTexan]

Romney only beats Perry with Palin, who is not currently runnig, in there as a Perot style distraction.

[icanhasbailout]

I’ve been wondering the same thing since 2007.

Palin and Paul have no lack of fervent faithful.

Perry and Bachmann seem to get many people who think they represent the best overall value in a candidate.

But who in the world are Romney voters? There aren’t anywhere near enough Mormons on the planet, and the vast majority of people liberal enough would not be voting in the GOP primary other than Operation Chaos style. How many Republicans for Universal Health Care can there be?

I had many of the same questions as to who McCain primary voters were as well. Never met one of those either.

[volunbeer]

I agree. Romney has always been a little creepy with how polished he is. Right out of a casting call.

If Romney has front loaded the primary states with supporters look for him to bounce like a dead cat. I suppose one strategy would be to sweep the early primaries and hope that generated some enthusiasm in later primaries but I don’t think it will work.

I don’t think it’s a Mormon thing either. I live in a heavily Mormon area and work with quite a few of them who are conservatives. They don’t mention him. Don’t hear his name mentioned on the local AM talk politics show outside of the usual recap of poll results. FWIW - I could vote for a Mormon. I am not voting for President not Preacher.

From a political science perspective... I wonder how Romney will be studied in the future given that he has poured everything into the first few races? I was worried a few weeks ago that Romney might win the nomination and frustrated because I could not understand why.

The GOP braintrust would be wise to bring a few conservative states into play early to avoid the RINO bias but sadly, it seems like they favor RINO’s too.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Yes Sarah would be fine with me. Sarah and Rick are both pretty crafty and we need some crafty people who will run with the ball.

The democRTAS are so underhanded and crooked that I wouldn’t be afraid to bet they would HELP a person like Romney win, knowing they could control him so they would continue destroying our economy/country and the right would be blamed for it, by the communist media which have taken hold. All the judges, etc., they have put in will office will continue to do their part, of course. The SC is another.

Either way, they are out for some rough hill climbing and it’s not going to be easy. The left do not play fair. We need crafty and smart and a lot of help from us. IMO