The battle is on in the early primary states as former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and businessman Herman Cain lead the rest of the pack of presidential candidates in the first four states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida -- that will determine the GOP's nominee to take on President Barack Obama in 2012. Romney leads in all four states while Cain is a close second in Iowa and South Carolina in CNN/Time polls released on Wednesday.
IOWA
In Iowa, which is scheduled to hold its caucus Jan. 3, Romney leads the pack with 24 percent, but Cain is in a strong second with 21 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who took a strong second in the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames back in August, takes third with 12 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry are locked in a tie for fourth in the Hawkeye State with 10 percent each.
Despite winning the straw poll in Ames, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota stands in a distant sixth place in Iowa with 6 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania came in seventh with 2 percent followed by former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah with 1 percent.
The poll of 405 Republican voters in Iowa was taken Oct. 20-25 and had a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Romney is in better shape in New Hampshire, taking 40 percent while Cain is in second with 13 percent. Paul takes third and is right on Cains heels taking 12 percent. Huntsman, who moved his headquarters from Orlando to New Hampshire earlier this month, stands in a distant fourth with 6 percent followed by Gingrich with 5 percent, Perry with 4 percent, Bachmann with 2 percent and Santorum trailing with 1 percent.
The poll of 211 Republican voters in New Hampshire and 189 independents who voted in the 2008 Republican primary was taken from Oct. 20-25 and had a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
SOUTH CAROLINA
In South Carolina, the first state in the South to hold a presidential primary, Romney is barely ahead of Cain, edging the businessman 25 percent to 23 percent. Paul stands in third in the Palmetto State with 12 percent followed by Perry with 11 percent. Gingrich garners 8 percent followed by Bachmann with 4 percent. Santorum and Huntsman are tied at the bottom of the poll with 1 percent each.
The poll of 400 Republican voters in South Carolina was taken from Oct. 20-25 and had a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
FLORIDA
Romney takes 30 percent in Florida while Cain, who won the Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando last month, stands in second place with 18 percent. Gingrich and Perry are locked in a tie for third with 9 percent each. Paul takes fifth with 6 percent followed by Bachmann with 4 percent. Huntsman and Santorum lag behind with 1 percent each.
The poll of 401 Republican voters in Florida was taken from Oct. 20-25 and had a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
