Only GOP Candidate Close to Obama, Mitt Romney Leads New Q-Poll

A poll released on Wednesday by Quinnipiac University had good news for former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. Not only was Romney leading the pack of hopefuls for the Republican presidential nomination but he was also the only GOP hopeful who wasn't being beaten by double digits by President Barack Obama.

Romney led the Republican race with 25 percent. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, after a strong June, continued to show signs of momentum, taking second with 14 percent. Former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, who has left the door open to running, took third with 12 percent. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who is showing increased signs that he will enter the race, took fourth with 10 percent.

The rest of the field trailed in single digits. Businessman Herman Cain took 6 percent while former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas tied with 5 percent each. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota came next with 3 percent followed by former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 1 percent apiece. U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan, who entered the race earlier in the month, took less than 1 percent.

The poll had Obama beating the various Republicans. Only Romney trailed by single digits and kept the president under 50 percent.

The poll of 2,311 registered voters was taken from July 5-11 and had a margin of error of +/- 2 percent. This includes 913 Republican primary voters which had a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.