New poll shows Rick Santorum leading in Alabama GOP primary

al.com ^ | 03/07/12 | George Talbot

[pgkdan]

A new poll released on the eve of Rick Santorum’s first campaign visit to Alabama shows the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania leading in the state Republican Party presidential primary.

The statewide poll conducted by Alabama State University’s Center for Leadership and Public Policy showed 22.7 percent of likely Republican voters supported Santorum, who is scheduled to make campaign appearances Thursday in Huntsville and Mobile.

Former Massachussetts Gov. Mitt Romney trailed Santorum with 18.7 percent, followed by Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House from neighboring Georgia, with 13.8 percent.

The telephone poll of 470 likely GOP voters showed 29.8 remained undecided and 15 percent saying they intended to support other candidates. The poll did not ask voters whether they supported Ron Paul, the Texas congressman seeking the GOP nomination.

The poll was conducted March 1, prior to the Super Tuesday vote that helped establish Romney and Santorum as leaders in the race for the nomination, with Romney holding a total of 415 delegates and Santorum with 176.

Gingrich, with 105 delegates, canceled campaign plans in Kansas this week to focus on voters in Alabama and Mississippi, which share a primary election day Tuesday.

But the poll results indicate that support for Gingrich is waning in Alabama, according to ASU political science professor Thomas Vocino.

“The numbers are just not in his favor, and the trend is working against him,” Vocino said. “I can’t foresee a situation where he can rebound and win in Alabama.”

Vocino said Gingrich’s support has fallen steeply since ASU began tracking the race five weeks ago. Gingrich led the field in Alabama with 26.9 percent in the initial round of polling on Feb. 2. His support slipped to 18.9 percent by Feb. 23, when results showed him with a slim lead over Santorum at 18.3 percent.

Santorum’s steady increase over the same time period came almost completely at Gingrich’s expense, Vocino said. Romney, by comparison, has held flat at around 16-18 percent, according to Vocino.

The results indicate that Gingrich is unlikely to reach the 20 percent threshold that would allow him to win delegates in any of the state’s seven congressional districts.

“I think it is very problematic for Gingrich to get any” delegates, Vocino said

[Hawthorn]

>> Rick was born in Virginia, but don’t let the facts interrupt you <<

My apology to Rick. Thanks for your correction!

[Joe 6-pack]

And my apologies to you for the tone of my correction :-)

[darrellmaurina]

301 posted on Thursday, March 08, 2012 8:37:16 PM by Bailee: “Starting to look an awful like DU on here. If you support Santorum good - go vote. If you support Newt good - go vote. All this snarling and back biting is weakening both candidates or maybe that is what some of you are trying to do.:

Thank you for your words of wisdom.

[JediJones]

When Newt ticked off Dole was in the ‘80s. He called him the “tax collector for the welfare state” and he got language changed in the party platform to make sure tax hikes were not on the table as Dole wanted. Obviously they were allies when they were the House and Senate leaders in the ‘90s, for pragmatic reasons. Dole also offered to loan Newt the $300,000 to settle the ethics attacks by Democrats. Newt fought the party over the platform but when it comes time to vote he does not undermine the party’s candidates. I’m pretty sure that’s not a rule you can really break if you want to stay in the party.

[GracieOMalley]

Thank you very much for the good advice.

I didn’t mean for my post to endorse Romney. It was more like a prediction, or educated guess, on the way things are going.

Actually, since my favorite candidate dropped out early in the race, I think I might just sit this one out.

I’m sorry that I don’t understand this site. I guess speculation or just random discussion is frowned upon.

I won’t shoot the breeze anymore. Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts.

[SZonian]

What’s the matter gracie, cat got your tongue? Waiting for you to point out the “hate”...

I find your attacks on my character pretty humorous and juvenile at the same time. I thought you could do better, but so far I find myself disappointed in your abilities to debate the purported merits of your position.

You didn’t like me pointing out your PRO-Romney comments so you switched to the liberal tactic of trying to debase your opponent by making it personal.

Alinsky would be proud.

[GracieOMalley]

No comment.

[SZonian]

No moral fortitude to acknowledge a mistake nor the good character to retract your accusations and attacks on my character.

I’ll take your “no comment” as a win.

[Carry_Okie]

Santorum’s foreign policy is basicly to start a lot of wars. He is a neoconservative, just like Romney, McCain, Bush and Obama, and that is really my only main issue with him.

If Gingrich chumps had any brains (not you D1), they'd realize that Sheldon Adelson having Newt in his pocket means the same thing, cuz Massah Adelson is all about Israel. Guess it doesn't bother you a whit that it's gambling money. But then you believe what Newtie SAYS, and don't see what he DOES (like where he gets his campaign money), just like his first two wives didn't.

Ah well, love is blind (and so is desperation).

[mojitojoe]

ping to #326

[mojitojoe]

but I bet Obama appreciates you more. Vote Rick and give him back the white house and the congress. You will see.
___________________
Santorum has zero chance of beating the Marxist Kenyan, ZERO!!!! I’m a conservative and I can’t stand him. GO NEWT!

[Brown Deer]

Romney will get the business people; the Mormons; good, decent women; the family values crowd; and the moderates and Utah.

It’s a win—win—win—for Romney, Rick, and the GOP.

Not only a retread, but pro-Mormon retread!

[mojitojoe]

and a zotted one now.

[caww]

(smile on my face for that zot)

[TheOldLady]

So long, GracieOMalley (Posting History)

Hat Tip to MojitoJoe

Retread Mythens fan tries getting back under the radar, but falls on a sizzling rail and explodes into a greasy spray of burning troll




This is a Conservative site - Romney is a liberal


Thank you JoeProBono

FReepmail TheOldLady to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Thanks

[pgkdan]

More professional observers can ALWAYS forsee such situations. I predict Newt will win big here in Alabama.

Is that so??

[pgkdan]

If Newt comes in 2nd or 3rd in both Alabama and Mississippi, then he should admit that his souther strategy has failed, meet with Santorum and devise a methodology whereby he can immediately join with and support Santorum’s campaign.

Here's to hoping that Newt can put aside his ego and do just that.

[pgkdan]

Well afterall, you have to admit, you posted week old data that is now the opposite of today’s reality, and tried to claim it was a “new” Poll.

A week old accurate poll sure beats the hell out of day old B.s. one doesn't it?

[Jeff Head]

Sounds like he isn’t going to...though the pressure is going to grow.

If he does not, and continues to split the vote...then Romney will do just like he did last night. He’ll pick up 1/3 of the delegates in those conservatve areas, and win a large majority in the more moderate areas (like Hawaii and Am. Samoa) and end up further increasing his lead each time, like he did last night.

Though Santorum beat him 32 delegates to 23 delegates in Alabama and Mississippi, Romney beat Santorum 24 delegates to 1 in Hawaii and American Samoa. So last night, Santorum got 33 delegetaes and Romney got 47 and is still increasing his lead substantially in the delegate count.

See my :

GOP Primary Tracker Site
http://www.jeffhead.com/GOPTracker.htm

for a much more detailed look.