PRINCETON, NJ — Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin lead other potential candidates in Republicans’ preferences for the party’s 2012 presidential nomination. Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul also receive more than 5% support from Republicans nationwide.
Gallup, in a poll conducted Sept. 25-26, asked Republicans and Republican-leaning independents which of 12 possible candidates they would be most likely to support for the party’s nomination. All 12 candidates are thought to be seriously considering a run for president, and many of them have already visited Iowa and New Hampshire, the states holding the first nominating contests.
In addition to the 12 named candidates, 1% of respondents volunteered the name of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Christie, in his first year as governor of the state, has become a prominent GOP figure, though he is not expected to run for president in 2012.
The current results are similar to prior Gallup polling on the 2012 nomination, using an open-ended format as well as a closed-ended format that offered a shorter list of candidates. Those polls also found Romney and Palin leading, with Huckabee and Gingrich next in line among likely candidates.
Full Story: Romney, Palin at Front of GOP Presidential Field