Rick Perry Leading Mitt Romney in Florida, But Romney Beats Increasingly Unpopular Barack Obama

Heading into Florida's Presidency 5 summit, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a small lead over the Republican presidential pack in the state, with 28 percent, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 22 percent, a Quinnipiac Poll said Thursday.

Romney has barely moved since he led the Florida GOP field with 23 percent in Quinnipiac's Aug. 4 survey, while Perry has surged from 13 percent in that survey conducted before he formally announced his candidacy.

But Romney still does better against President Barack Obama in a hypothetical general election. Romney beats Obama 47-40 while Perry gets 42 percent to Obama's 44 percent.

Overall, Florida voters disapprove, 57 percent to 39 percent, of the job Obama is doing --his worst score in any Quinnipiac University poll in any state.

By 53-41, Florida voters say Obama does not deserve a second term.

Adding to Perrys strength is support among Sarah Palin backers, who shift more to the Texas governor if the former Alaska governor stays out of the race," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.