(CNN) - It's still three weeks away, plenty of time for voters to change their minds, but a new poll indicates Mitt Romney's the front-runner in Florida's January 31st primary.
According to a Quinnipiac University survey released Monday, 36% of likely GOP primary voters say if the primary were held today, they'd support the former Massachusetts governor, who's making his second bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
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Twelve points back, at 24% is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at 16%, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas at 10%, with five percent backing Texas Gov. Rick Perry and two percent supporting former Utah Gov. and former U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman at two percent.
"Gov. Mitt Romney has a double-digit lead in Florida among likely primary voters. But the primary is three weeks away and the results from New Hampshire and South Carolina could shake things up in the Sunshine State," says Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "With more than half of voters saying they might change their minds and more than 50 percent of them backing candidates perceived as more conservative, Romney could be vulnerable if those voters settle on one candidate."
The most recent polling of the GOP nomination race conducted in Florida before the new Quinnipiac survey was a month ago. At that time, Gingrich had large double digit leads in the polls over the rest of the Republican White House hopefuls. But since then, Gingrich's poll numbers plunged, and he finished a disappointing fourth in last week's Iowa caucuses, the first contest in the primary and caucus calendar. Romney edged out Santorum by 8 votes to win in Iowa.
According to the Quinnipiac poll, Romney and Gingrich are tied at 32 percent among Floridians who describe themselves as tea party movement members, with Santorum at 19%. Self-described white evangelical Christians are also divided, with Romney grabbing 28 percent support, Gingrich at 26% and Santorum at 20%.
Florida comes fourth in the primary and caucus calendar, with its contest coming ten days after South Carolina.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted Jan. 4-8, with 560 likely Republican primary voters in Florida questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
– Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @PSteinhauserCNN
Also see:
Santorum to South Carolina: 'Step up'
Paul looking forward to South Carolina, caucus states
From CNN Politics
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Hey, let's face it. People know competence and skill when they see it. If there ever was a "turn around" situation, it is the USA! And Romney has proven over and over, he is the right man for that job.
Bain Capital–this time Florida needs to be watched just like Bush idiot rigged election....o.k, I do not think, he wins in the 2012 election....Obama2012.
Since Romney is the very same 'liberal' that basically authored 'Obamacare', thereby validating many of Obama's major policies....looks like Florida Republicans have decided against voting far right now.
Florida has spoken – the 2012 ticket will be -> Obama vs. the guy that validates Obama.
He wouldn't be right for a job as dog catcher. I hope Floridians are watching these debates very closely. If they're smart, they'll change their minds very quickly.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
@Truth and Nothing But the Truth – All Romney's track record proves is that he can gut US business for pennies on the dollar and outsource American jobs on a massive scale. His public record as a single-term governor of Mass. shows us that he cannot and will not create jobs – He was ranked dead last in the country by the US Dept. of Labor in jobs creation.
THE "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" is no longer so U-N-I-T-ED with such a huge Political-divide...THEY, the Politiciians seem to promote and sounds like carve-out two countries as we listen to the rhetoric from both sides of the politiical-spectrum....At this juncture what the country really needs is a Leader once President to shed partisan-politics and unite the Nation as one...."Is there such a Leader-of-Hope".........?
Is Jeb Bush gonna "fix" this race TOO?
Maybe they're hoping he will send their jobs to Cuba.
Ever notice that a dem would not bad-mouth Huntsman? Now would that be because Obama gave him a ambasadorship, and by doing so would speak poorly of the almighty?
We have to believe this CNN !, yesterday evening and late night CNN air the abc debate not MSNBC because Romney got hurt on MSNBC debate
It is clear CNN support Romney
@Truth and Nothing But the Truth
"Hey, let's face it. People know competence and skill when they see it. If there ever was a "turn around" situation, it is the USA! And Romney has proven over and over, he is the right man for that job."
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Hey let's face it. The Republican field is so ridiculously weak this flip-flopping, corporate raiding, fat cat is the only thing you've got left. Romney has proven over and over, he'll tell you whatever you want to hear. I suppose you now "love" Romneycare? I think it was okay... but I'm not a conservative. Romney does have two assets conservatives will appreciate – the Koch brother's money and a white face.
Romney can bridge the gap between nations and in politics
Mitt Rmoney speaks fluent French, being there on a religious deferment during the Vietnam draft. He will now be Commander-in-Chief and will get it going with Iran. Said Obama was too fast out of Iraq.
Romney's dad was the first Mexican-American (born Chihuahua Mexico polygamous community) to run for President of the United States (1968, look it up, undisputed)
Finally, Mitt Rmoney can bridge the political gap. He ran to the left of Ted Kennedy in MA and now he is Mr Conservative to be the republican nominee, 2012
Flexibility and just belief in oneself is the hallmark of a man BORN to be President. And his cash money doesn't hurt. A better candidate could bot be designed in a laboratory.
Truth wrote:
And Romney has proven over and over, he is the right man for that job.
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Mitt Romney is first and foremost a salesman. His work record at Bain Capital says that he sells people money. His record also says that his salesmanship also makes him a good fundraiser, as demonstrated by his experience with the Winter Olympics, which were privately funded and lagging behind in donations when Romney took over and found new sources of capital. His record as Gov. of Mass. says that he will say anything that he thinks the voters want to hear just to get elected.
Never invite the loser to be your referee. When I watched McCain campaigning for Romney, I asked myself why Romney was doing that? This was totally kamikaze.
Romney has yet to prove he can do anything, other than outsource jobs. Being a limp writsted, flip-flopping liar is not what our country needs, we need to move forward from the Bush/republican near depression. Vote for Obama.
Good luck Florida with that Republican agenda including, get rid of medicare and social security as we know it. Did I mention cutting funding for education, abolishing our new Healthcare plan and among other things cutting taxes for the rich and leaving the middle class to fend for themselves. So shoot yourselves in the foot, stupid.
Any one that votes for a Republican must me rich or stupid they only care about a Government of corporate pay offs and little taxes for the rich and more taxes for the poor. The hard working people get less and less medical for more money and if you get laid off then you and your kids have none. But you guys in the house and senate get medical for life for selling us out to pharmaceutical industry or any big corporation .They should have the same medical has we do.
@Truth and Nothing But the Truth:
"Hey, let's face it. People know competence and skill when they see it. If there ever was a "turn around" situation, it is the USA! And Romney has proven over and over, he is the right man for that job."
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The only kills he's ever demonstrated are lining his pockets and having a lousy batting average when it comes to running for office. If Mitt were a company, he would have been de-listed for lack of performance.
Please just listen to Romney on what he wants to get rid of. Education department, Medicare, social security benefits, defense department, housing department which now has affordable housing for seniors, and also no union rights. Is it anyone on this blog that will need any of these services. Yes, so remember if you want any of the republicans to win the presidential office you won't receive any of these benefits.
So Willard is going to be our next president. I hope he enjoys working with a do nothing congress. We all know that the defeat of Obama will be a declaration of war. The Democrats will block any and all Republican plans for this country.
So it really doesn't matter who the president is.
Any of the republican candidates would be better in the white house, heck even Hillary would be better in the white house. Anyone but Obama needs to be voted into the office. It would be better to have a president that does not violate the constitution every time he turns around, just because he thinks it doesn't apply to him. For example, when he told Holder not to defend the "defense of marriage act" which is a "law." Another, in making "recess" appointments when congress was not in recess(yes it was a procedural thing, but within the law). Even Bush did not try to do that when the democrats pulled the same "procedure" on him, and allowing sanctuary cities protection of illegal aliens to go on unabated. Those three things alone should be enough to get him impeached with jail time.
Well I hope my fellow Floridians will not make the mistake they made with Governor Scott. OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!!