Romney holds 14-point lead over Gingrich in new Florida poll
January 30th, 2012
08:02 AM ET
10 years ago

Romney holds 14-point lead over Gingrich in new Florida poll

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Tampa, Florida (CNN) - On the eve of the Sunshine State's Republican presidential primary, a fourth straight poll indicates Mitt Romney holding a double-digit lead over Newt Gingrich.

According to a Quinnipiac University survey released Monday, 43% of people likely to vote in Tuesday's GOP contest say they are backing the former Massachusetts governor, with 29% supporting the former House speaker.

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The poll indicates 11% are backing Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and an equal amount are supporting former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Seven percent of people questioned say they are undecided, with 24% indicating they could change their minds.

The Quinnipiac poll was conducted Friday through Sunday, after Thursday night's CNN/Republican Party of Florida GOP debate in Jacksonville, which was the final showdown between the candidates before the primary.

Romney also held an 11-point lead over Gingrich in an American Research Group survey, released Sunday, which was also conducted entirely after the debate. And he held a 15-point lead in an NBC News/Marist poll that was conducted Wednesday through Friday of last week, and an 11-point advantage in a Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 survey that was conducted Tuesday through Thursday of last week.

Romney's 14-point lead in the new Quinnipiac poll is up from a 9-point advantage he held in a Quinnipiac poll released on Friday. Romney is making his second bid for the GOP nomination.

In the new survey, Romney holds a 40%-31% advantage over Gingrich among self-described conservatives, a 38%-33% margin over Gingrich among white evangelical Christians, and a 40%-35% margin over the former House speaker among tea party movement supporters. All three groups are part of Gingrich's strongest supporters.

"Gov. Mitt Romney is headed towards a double-digit victory that touches all the GOP bases," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Romney carries every part of the GOP coalition, including the parts central to Gingrich – self-described conservatives, white evangelical Christians and Tea Party supporters. If this margin holds up tomorrow, it's hard to see where Gingrich goes from here."

The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted January 27-29, with 539 likely Republican primary voters in Florida questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

– Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @PSteinhauserCNN

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Filed under: 2012 • Florida • Mitt Romney • Newt Gingrich • Polls
soundoff (4 Responses)
  1. The Real Tom Paine

    Well, Florida IS closer to the Caymans than any other state. That explains it, along with the fact he's competing against a man who uses paranoia as a strategic political strategy, another who hates anyone who disagrees with hsi views, and another man who should not even be running, according to hsi own logic. Remember that amazing 4 years Mitt had in MA? All those jobs he created?

    January 30, 2012 08:58 am at 8:58 am |
  2. Phil in KC

    43% is not a majority but, with 4 people running, that's a pretty commanding lead. May as well give Mitt the delegates. Why bother to actually hold an election?

    January 30, 2012 09:20 am at 9:20 am |
  3. v_mag

    So, which one of these bozos is any different from GWB? All of them want to "take the country back" to the horrible old Bush days. Why would we want another Bush presidency? Why would any American vote to do that to the country?

    January 30, 2012 09:23 am at 9:23 am |
  4. Jerry from Dallas

    This guy is a flip flopper! He is softening his stand on immigration to make peace with Florida voters! WHAT A SHAME?

    January 30, 2012 09:28 am at 9:28 am |
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