A poll released by Fox News late Wednesday revealed that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts was leading the Republican pack looking to defeat President Barack Obama -- but former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani did best against the Democratic incumbent in general election match-ups.
The poll was taken by both Anderson Robbins Research and Shaw & Company Research.
Romney, who ran before for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, topped the poll
with 23 percent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another candidate from 2008 who appears increasingly likely to take another shot at the nomination, placed second with 13 percent. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who also appears increasingly likely to run for the Republican nomination, took third with 12 percent.
The rest of the pack trailed in single digits. Two candidates based out of Georgia -- former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and businessman Herman Cain -- tied for fourth with 7 percent. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas tied for sixth with 5 percent. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania were knotted up in eighth placewith 4 percent each. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman came in 10th with 2 percent. Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana garnered 1 percent in the poll, while three candidates -- former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, activist Fred Karger and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama -- lagged with less than one-half of 1 percent.
While Obama did not garner 50 percent approval in the poll, he did lead all of the Republicans in general election match-ups. While 48 percent of those surveyed approved of the way Obama has performed in the White House, 43 percent disapproved.
Scoring well with independent voters, Giuliani came closest among the Republican candidates to defeating Obama. The former New York mayor garnered 43 percent while Obama took 47 percent. Obama did better against Romney, taking 48 percent while the Republican took 41 percent.
Obama led the other Republican candidates by much wider margins in the poll. The president took 49 percent when matched up with Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey who garnered 34 percent. Christie has repeatedly said he has no intention of running for the Republican nomination. Obama beat Pawlenty by 18 percent, taking 50 percent against the Republicans 32 percent. The president led Gingrich by a similar margin, taking 53 percent against the former congressional leader who stood at 34 percent. Palin did the worst against Obama, losing by 21 points.
The poll of 921 registered voters was taken between June 5-7 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The sampling of 338 Republican primary voters had a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com, or at (850) 727-0859.
