Romney Edges Santorum While Ron Paul Struggles in Texas Poll

After a court fight over redistricting, the Texas Republican presidential primary was moved to May 29. A new Rasmussen Reports poll of likely Texas GOP primary voters released on Tuesday finds a close battle brewing in the Lone Star State with Mitt Romney leading with 32 percent followed by Rick Santorum with 30 percent. Newt Gingrich stands in third with 19 percent while Ron Paul garners 9 percent. Seven percent are undecided and 3 percent back other candidates.

Paul has represented parts of Texas, off and on, in Congress for decades -- but he has never had much luck there when he runs for president. He took less than 5 percent back in the 2008 Texas primary.

Back in 1988, as the Libertarian presidential candidate, Paul took .56 of a percent in the Lone Star State in the general election when he faced Texas-based Republican George H.W. Bush and Democrat Mike Dukakis (with Texan Lloyd Benson in the vice presidential spot).

The poll of 750 likely Texas Republican primary voters was taken on March 12 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.