CNN Poll: Perry enters race in virtual tie with Romney, Bachmann fades

Hotair ^ | 08/11/2011 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

Texas Governor Rick Perry will upend the Republican presidential primary with his entry this weekend, CNN’s latest national poll shows. He starts off in a virtual tie with Mitt Romney, 17/15, with his nearest competitors at 12%. Perhaps most surprisingly, Michele Bachmann isn’t among them — and her support gets cut almost in half with Perry’s candidacy:

According to a CNN/ORC International poll, 15 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP pick Perry as their first choice for their party’s nomination, just two points behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who’s making his second bid for the White House. Romney’s two point margin over Perry is within the survey’s sampling error.

The poll’s Thursday release comes two days before Perry gives a speech at a major conservative gathering in South Carolina where his staff has indicated he will make his intentions for a presidential run clear. Later in the day Perry travels to New Hampshire to meet with GOP lawmakers, activists, and voters. Perry’s travels Saturday come as the rest of the political spotlight will be shining on Iowa, for a crucial presidential straw poll in Ames. Perry heads to Iowa Sunday to speak at a Republican party gathering, which means he will visit three of the crucial early voting primary and caucus states this weekend.

The survey indicates that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who is making his third bid for the White House, are at 12 percent apiece. While both Giuliani, who ran for the presidency four years ago, and Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, have flirted with bids, neither has taken concrete steps towards launching a campaign.

Three weeks ago, Perry scored 14% but Giuliani, Palin, and Bachmann all scored 13% or 12%. Now Bachmann has dropped to 7%, a fall of five points and the biggest decline in the field for the period. Ron Paul has picked up four points to surpass her and join Giuliani and Palin in a three-way tie for third place.

Bachmann isn’t the only candidate trending downward, but the rest are in the second tier. Herman Cain dropped two points to 4%, while Tim Pawlenty dropped one to come in at 2%. Both of these candidates need breakout performances in Iowa, which was well known before this week. If CNN’s series is not an outlier, Bachmann may need one as well, now that Perry has come closer to tossing his hat in the ring. She has been wowing crowds in Iowa this week in advance of the debate and straw poll, so she is doing all she can on the ground, but that may not be enough — at least not this week.

Time Magazine’s Mark Halperin interviewed Perry this week about his plans:

[Sarabaracuda]

Just remember: A vote for anyone other than Rick (and Sarah) is a vote for Romney Obama.

[GatorGirl]

I agree. I’m all for Cain but he doesn’t appear to be getting traction. I guess people really are looking for career politicians! (sigh)

I don’t think he should play second fiddle but I would have no problem with seeing him as Veep. We need his business expertise.

And although he is qualified in a million different ways the color of his skin not being one of them other than being a basis for his victory over adversity like that of Clarence Thomas, his presence on the ticket would remove the race card from Zero’s deck.

[DrewsMum]

Yes he did. What is your point? Not being snarky, just not sure why the comment to me about that?? Maybe you missed my response to the other post about it?? Or maybe I missed something????

[DrewsMum]

Calling for troops on the border? Why hasn’t HE sent any NG down there?? Or did he finally?? He said AZ1070 wasn’t for TX, he signed a bill paying for tuition, partially, for illegal aliens, he said he agreed w/Vicente Fox on open borders, he said that building a border fence was “nonsense”, shall I go on???? HE IS PRO-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

[Lazlo in PA]

You sold me. I hate him now. Let’s get him and all the others out of this Primary battle. They are going to destroy the country anyway. If Obummer wins, at least we will know who we are dealing with and be able to mount the appropriate protest.