Mitt Romney Far Ahead of Rick Santorum in California Poll

With 172 delegates on the line, the California Republican presidential primary can still be important despite being held on June 5 -- fairly late in the procession of states that will determine who will take on Barack Obama in November.

A Rasmussen Reports poll of likely California GOP primary voters released on Tuesday finds Mitt Romney routing the field in the Golden State. Romney takes 43 percent followed by Rick Santorum in distant second with 23 percent. Newt Gingrich takes third with 15 percent followed by Ron Paul with 8 percent. Another 8 percent are undecided while 3 percent back other candidates.

The poll of 750 likely California Republican primary voters was taken on March 12 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.