Romney Beating Gingrich in S.C., Santorum and Paul Battle for Third

With South Carolina Republicans voting in the presidential primary on Saturday, a poll of likely voters from Rasmussen Reports unveiled on Tuesday finds former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leading the pack of presidential hopefuls in the Palmetto State.

Romney, who has already chalked up wins in the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, takes 35 percent of those surveyed. In a Rasmussen poll of South Carolina last week, Romney led with 28 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrcih stands in second with 21 percent, while U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania are locked in a tie for third with 16 percent each. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas lags with 5 percent. A third of the voters -- 33 percent -- say they could still change their mind.

The poll of 750 likely South Carolina Republican primary voters was taken on Jan. 16 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.