Jeb Bush a Contender in NH if Mitt Romney Doesn't Run

A new poll shows former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is a contender in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary, if former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., decides not to run for president in 2016.

A Bloomberg/St. Anslem College poll released Monday shows Romney remains the favorite in New Hampshire, which he won in 2012, with 30 percent. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., places second with 11 percent, followed by Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., with 9 percent, Bush with 8 percent and a gaggle of candidates polling in low to mid single digits.

But when Romney is taken out of the mix, Christie, Bush and Paul are all running close. Christie takes 22 percent when Romney supporters offer their second choice, followed by Bush with 20 percent and Paul with 19 percent. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., moves up from 5 percent to 8 percent while the rest of the field remains in low to mid single digits.

The poll of 407 New Hampshire Republican primary voters was taken from Nov. 12-18 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent.