Santorum's lead disappears in national poll
(CNN) – Rick Santorum, who last week enjoyed a 10-point nationwide lead over Mitt Romney, is now within one point of his chief GOP rival after dropping several points in Gallup's daily tracking poll.
The survey taken February 22-24 showed Santorum with the backing of 31% of registered Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, down two points from Friday and down five points from his peak on Wednesday.
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Support for Romney rose to 30%, a much-needed boost for the candidate who stood at 25% on Wednesday.
For the ongoing poll, Gallup surveys more than 1,000 registered Republican voters on a daily basis. The poll drops the oldest of five days each day and adds results from the most recent day of polling.
In the latest survey, Gallup questioned 1,153 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents by telephone between February 20 and February 24. The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
The results Saturday include two days of polling after CNN's Republican presidential debate in Arizona, the final time the four candidates squared off before key contests in Michigan and Arizona next week, as well as the votes in 10 states on Super Tuesday, March 6.
The two other candidates in the race, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, were both well behind the two front-runners. Gingrich stood at 16% and Paul was at 11%. Neither Gingrich nor Paul has seen a change in his numbers since Thursday.
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Can you imagine the sigh of relief the RNC must feel with this poll. I can't imagine how the pharmacuetical companies are keeping enough anxiety meds in supply during such a crisis as what is the repub primary. It deserves an emmy it's so entertaining and must see tv
Good, now maybe Rick will disappear!
Good, now Rick should disappear.
Doesn't really matter for any of them...just a waste of money that could be put to better use elsewhere...none of them are capable of defeating Obama..........
The basic Republican wash cycle thus far:
1) Embrace the candidate that's not Romney
2) Wait until you remember – or the media reminds you – why that person sucks.
3) Reluctantly go back to Romney.
4) Go to step 1.
So is it Ron Paul's turn next? That could get interesting...
If the GOP keeps messing up like this, the President will keep breaking into song, and he's really not that good a singer.
OK, he's better than Mitt, but Roseanne is better than MItt.
Santorum... a clown without make-up..
Insanitorum wants war with Iran, and will back up Israel no matter what Israel does . . . he is a George Bush clone, or worse.
money – buys – US elections
the land of the free and the home of the brave except where money is involved
RoMONEY buying you out like...P
ONLY TRUE DEMOCRACY = CANADA
This guy is a joke, it took awhile for people to see it.
Well Rick thinks women aren't equal to men, and Education indoctrinates people against religion, cukkooo
Soon, God willing, Santorum will disappear from the candidate's list.
They all need to go to moon with Gingrich with their candidates and the whole congress. Please stay there.
The Gay Curse is revisiting Santorum and bringing down his poll numbers for his anti-gay right wing crusades!
American people are tired of GOP lies and deception. It is time for payback.
Headline: Santorum trickling out
Some might say that Santorum's lead was frothy anyway. 😉
Not surprising to see the platform he erected becoming flaccid.
Romney has paid a lot of money to extinguish this lead. He thinks he can buy the Presidency.
can't wait for headline "santorum disappears"
i dont think he stands a chance i still think obama will be re-elected
This is all a mute point. Obama will be elected.
It's amazing that the Repugnicans can only come up with these 4 to run for the highest office in the land. Actually its just SAD.
Ron paul baby, Ron Paul is the guy.
Laughing! Let them hang themselves!
During last week's debate, did I hear Santorum say someting to the effect, "... going to beat the tar out of Obama" ?
Correction: During last week's debate, did I hear Santorum say something to the effect, "... going to beat the tar out of Obama' ?