New Gallup Poll: No Republican Front-runner in 2012

A Gallup poll released on Wednesday indicated that, with less than a year to go until Republicans start deciding who their presidential candidate will be, no front-runner has emerged in the potentially crowded field.

The poll of 1,326 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents had former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in first place with 18 percent, but two candidates -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska -- right behind him at 16 percent, well within the margin of error. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich placed fourth at 9 percent, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas took 5 percent and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota stood at 4 percent. Two current governors -- Haley Barbour of Mississippi and Mitch Daniels of Indiana -- were knotted up at 3 percent along with former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania took 2 percent while former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsmann, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico and U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota all stood at 1 percent. Thune, Pence and Christie have said they would not run in 2012. Businessmen Donald Trump and Herman Cain took less than one half of 1 percent.

The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent and was taken from Feb. 18-20.

Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News