A poll released Wednesday revealed that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is benefiting from Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump announcing they will not run for the Republican presidential nomination.
The poll from Suffolk University found Romney in front of the Republican pack with 20 percent. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has left the door open for making a presidential bid, placed second with 12 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia came in third with 9 percent. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York City, who like Romney and Huckabee sought the Republican nomination in 2008, took 7 percent followed by yet another veteran of the 2008 field --U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 5 percent.
Three candidates --U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, businessman Herman Cain and Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana --tied for sixth with 4 percent. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania tied for ninth with 3 percent, while three former governors --Jon Huntsman of Utah, Gary Johnson of New Mexico and Buddy Roemer of Louisiana --took less than one-half of 1 percent.
With Huckabee and Trump out of the race, the whole dynamic has changed, said David Paleologos of the Political Research Center at Suffolk University. Romney is the clear front-runner now; thats a position hell have to be prepared to defend over the coming months.
Romney also came closer than the other Republican hopefuls in the poll when matched up against President Barack Obama. Obama took 46 percent while Romney was right behind him with 43 percent. Obama did better against other Republicans, beating Gingrich by 14 points, Pawlenty by 16 points, Daniels by 18 points and Bachmann by 20 points.
The poll found more people viewed Obama favorably than unfavorably, 51 percent to 42 percent, but 48 percent of those surveyed did not think he deserved a second term compared to 43 percent who did.
The field of Republican hopefuls got mixed marks in the poll. Romney was seen favorably by 39 percent and unfavorably by 32 percent.Gingrichs numbers were upside down in the poll --with 50 percent of those surveyed viewing the former congressman unfavorably while only 29 percent saw him a favorable light. Palin was seen as favorable by 31 percent but 58 percent viewed her unfavorably. Paul was seen as favorable by 24 percent and unfavorable by 34 percent.
Other candidates remained unknown. Daniels was seen as favorable by 10 percent and unfavorable by 14 percent.Pawlenty was seen as favorable by 18 percent and unfavorable by 16 percent. Bachmann was viewed favorably by 20 percent as opposed to 28 percent who saw her as unfavorable. While 15 percent of those surveyed viewed Santorum favorably, 21 percent saw him as unfavorable.
The survey of 1,070 likely voters was taken between May 10-17 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
