Washington (CNN) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney continues to lead the pack of Republican 2012 contenders, although less than half of registered voters say they are satisfied with the current field, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.
But the survey was conducted almost entirely before the CNN GOP primary debate in New Hampshire on Monday, and therefore does not reflect any impact the debate may have had on voters' opinion of the candidates.
According to the poll, when presented with a field of 10 candidates, 30% of registered voters who said they will vote in a Republican primary chose Romney. Romney was followed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with 14% and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain with 12%.
The other candidates listed on the survey were Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.
When that list of potential candidates was shortened to six people, however, Romney's position improved even more, jumping to 43%. Paul and Bachmann tied for second with 11%.
Nonetheless, only 45% of those surveyed said they are satisfied with the current choices for the Republican presidential nomination. Ten percent of those surveyed said they are unsure.
Romney has consistently ranked among the top of the field of potential candidates, and was largely considered by political analysts the winner of the CNN debate in New Hampshire.
The poll surveyed 1,000 adults, including 200 reached by cell phone between June 9 and Monday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.10%.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Interesting how many of his success stories resemble initiatives you'd expect from a Democrat. He knows that medicine must be controlled by the government to provide affordable care and prevent fraud. The line about a "states responsibility" is weak. Could the poor states provide similar healthcare Romney offered in Massachusetts? Certainly not! Without mandatory purchase of the insurance plan there's no way anybody, private or public, could create a plan where only old people pay the premiums. Now he wants to step away from what was a logical process – all to get elected. Just another greedy Republican weasel.
Go Romneycare!!
Smug, arrogant and elitist, but I love his Romneycare! Hope he's Rep choice, 4 more years for Obama.
I would not buy a used car from this guy. Much less hire him to run the free world.
the media polls are as reliable as snot. they have proven to be completely unreliable and biased. there is no way this flip-flopping freedom hating neocon is going to be president (though he wouldnt be the first), america needs to take a serious look at his track record. this guy is faker than a 3 dollar bill...
This is fairly significant for Romney. This is the first poll that shows Romney with a sizable, front-runner status lead. Untill now it's been closer to 20% with someone else close behind. From now on we will see more and more polls showing Romney far ahead of anyone else in the race with 30 plus percent and even 40 percent.
The leader can always lose his postion. This is still too early to be claiming victory.
How come CNN, during the post debate analyses, did not show there own Poll, which had Ron Paul winning at an astounding 79 percent, just to show a poll from the National Journal which had him at 0 and only had 54 voters?
Lies. RonPaul2012
Mitt Romney has executive experience in the public and private sectors, nationwide name recognition, the political organization and machinery, funds and fund-raising capability, a presidential personality and charisma. He is an exemplary family man with good moral values and a self-made businessman who is dedicated to creating jobs and turning the economy around. He may not be perfect but I believe he's better qualified than the other prospective GOP nominees and the current White House occupant. Mitt Romney is ready!
Romney is NOT my first choice for president but any Republican will be better then the clown we have in office now. When the Republicans take the Senate this election cycle we are going too want a friendly veto pen in the white house vs this guy we have now.
M Gonzales
Edgewood, NM
CNN ,
Why is it you never ask Mitt Romney the reason for none of his sons serving in the military !
He needs to answer this question if he is campaigning to be Commander in Chief.
Why wont you post this ?
This photo of Mitt Romney needs to be put aside. This is not at all flattering.
June 2011 Mr. Romney leads in the polls. Now what difference does that make when not one vote has been cast in any primary or anything else. CNN get a grip.
Mitt Romney will be an excellent president!
Surprisingly, the most moderate candidate has the most Republican support. I'm happy about that.
Just see how the lead would fade away if Palin would jump in. COME ON SARAH WE NEED YOU BAD. PALIN 2012.
cnn, thanks for that photo. It looks like the cat who ate the canary but he's going to have to cough it right up. He is NOT IT!!! He has flipped flopped too much, his healthcare is the same as the Presiden'ts and he is taking credit for things that not only was he not a part of but that he was against!
Mitt Romney is not going to beat Obama on His health care plan alone, he started it and now it has finished him. He talks a good game yet this is the longest career he has had, running for president. He strikes me as a college student that doesn't know how to move on once they have gotten the degree so we can call Mr. Romney a Proffessional Presidential Candidate, if he wins I will truly be shocked. Let's hear more about his backround? where he was born, what he ate for breakfast, who he pals around with, where is his parents, and are there any gay family members in his family, where he goes to church what time church starts and what his pastor preaches about. Obama was grilled so these candidates should be given the same treatment and If this clown does win (I truly doubt) I hope that he will be addressed the same way as our current leader as Mr. Romney. President Obama has been disrespected with his title and I hope all of the american people will follow suit with the next comander in chief. Mr. Romney better hope Sarah Paylin doesn't steal any more of his spotlight and Watching Mr. Romney and Mrs. Bachman would be a real blast, we can call that boring and boring(er). The GOP have got to come up with someone with some taste and class to run against Obama. Even Hermain Caine looks like a fool and does he not get it that The GOP will not back him simply because of the color of his skin? he is bashing Obama for what? to look like a fool in Michael steele's place? Michael steele even got the hint after he was screwed by the GOP! I would love to see one Republican step up for Hermain Cain?? Back to Mr. Romney, Hey dude you freaken lost, get over it and try something else..
having a lead over this pack of misfits means nothing when you are a member of a religious cult!