Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney appears to be back on top in New Hampshire just days after a NH Journal poll showed him getting stiff competition from the resurgent former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
A new Suffolk University/7News poll released Tuesday shows Romney with a commanding double-digit lead over the rest of the GOP field in the Granite State. Romney garners the support of 41 percent of New Hampshire primary voters, followed by Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, each with 14 percent support. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who has staked the future of his campaign on a strong showing in New Hampshire, trails with 9 percent support.
The poll comes on the day Romney released his first ad in New Hampshire. In keeping with his front-runner status, the ad avoids mentioning his rivals and goes straight to attacking President Obama.
Gingrich, however, also has reason to smile today. A new Polling Company survey finds him leading Romney and embattled former pizza CEO Herman Cain by more than 10 points in South Carolina. Gingrich has 31 percent support in the Palmetto State, followed by Cain with 17 percent and Romney with 16 percent.
No other candidate cracked double digits in the survey. Since 1980, the winner of the South Carolina primary has always gone on to win the Republican nomination.
The New Hampshire poll was conducted November 16 – 20 among 400 likely primary voters and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent. The South Carolina poll was conducted November 18 – 21 among 505 likely primary voters and has a margin of error of 4.4 percent.