Michele Bachmann Surges into Second in New 2012 GOP Poll

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts may be the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination -- but according to a new poll, he is hearing the footsteps of the newest GOP hopeful, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.

A poll from Rasmussen Reports of likely Republican voters found Romney leading the pack with 33 percent but Bachmann, who declared her candidacy during a debate in New Hampshire on Monday night, placed a surprise second with 19 percent. Businessman Herman Cain, like Bachmann a favorite of the tea party movement, placed third with 10 percent followed by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia with 9 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas took fifth with 7 percent while former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania tied for sixth with 6 percent. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, who is expected to launch his candidacy next week, lagged behind with 2 percent.

While Bachmann did well in the debate on Monday, the poll did not include former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin who has placed second in most recent polls.

The poll of 1,000 likely Republican voters was taken on June 14 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.