Mitt Romney Leads in South Carolina

While most eyes are on New Hampshire where the Republican presidential hopefuls battle in the primary on Tuesday, We Ask America released a poll of the next state in the procession of primaries that will determine which candidate will challenge Barack Obama in November -- South Carolina, which holds its primary on Jan. 21.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts leads among likely primary voters with 26 percent, followed by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 21 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania takes third with 13 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 8 percent. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas takes 5 percent and former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah garners 4 percent. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed were undecided.

The poll of 993 likely Republican primary voters was taken Jan. 9 and had margin of error of +/- 3.11 percent.

With Romney expected to win New Hampshire on Tuesday -- and Gingrich fighting for fourth place -- these results could change in the days to come.