According to a CNN/Opinion Research poll released on Tuesday, only 49 percent of Republican voters say they are likely to support Sarah Palin if she runs for her party’s presidential nomination.
“That’s a huge 18-point drop since December of 2008, when two-thirds of GOPers said they were likely to support Palin. It also puts her well behind potential rivals Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, and a bit behind Newt Gingrich as well,” said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
When asked if they would back Palin in a Republican primary fight, 23 percent of respondents said they were “Very Likely” to do so, while 26 percent answered “Somewhat Likely.” Twenty-eight percent said they were “Not Likely at all” to support the former Alaska governor and television personality.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they would be either very or somewhat likely to back former Arkansas Governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney came in second place, with 59 percent saying they were either very or somewhat likely to support him in the Republican primary. Romney was followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who received 54 percent support.
Surprisingly, Palin didn’t even do especially well among self-described Tea Party supporters. Although 62 percent said they were very or somewhat likely to back her, 66 percent said they were very or somewhat likely to support Romney, while 72 percent said the same of Huckabee. Sixty-one percent said the same of Gingrich.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.