A Suffolk University/7NEWS (WHDH TV) poll of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters released late on Wednesday found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts continues to dominate the field in the Granite State.
Romney tops the poll with 38 percent, while former U.S House Speaker Newt Gingrich takes second with 20 percent. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, who has focused on New Hampshire, brushes past U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas to take third place with 13 percent. Paul follows with 8 percent.
Huntsmans strong showing was attributed by David Paleologos, director of Suffolk Universitys Political Research Center, to support from independent voters who are allowed to vote in the New Hampshire primary. The former Utah governor places only behind Romney among independent votes.
If independents participate in a big way next January, Huntsman will benefit, said Paleologos. While other candidates have focused on the more traditional Republican voters, Huntsman has traction among independents, who could dominate the Republican primary if mobilized.
The rest of the field lagged in low single digits. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota takes a distant fifth with 3 percent. Two current candidates -- former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana who has focused on New Hampshire and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania garner 2 percent each as does businessman Herman Cain who suspended his campaign earlier in the month. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas places last with 1 percent.
Romney receives high marks from New Hampshire voters on the economy, as 59 percent of those surveyed think he would do the best job of managing it while only 20 percent say that about Gingrich. On personal traits, Romney also scores well: 62 percent think he would do a better job of uniting the nation while only 18 percent think that Gingrich would do better; 70 percent think Romney has the best personality to be president while only 16 percent think Gingrich does.
These numbers show the depth of Romneys strength, said Paleologos. Weve seen that the economy has been the most important issue for the better part of two years, and New Hampshire voters clearly see Romney as the one to fix it. The favorable view of Romneys personality and ability to bring America together was seen even among Gingrich voters.
Gingrich does better than Romney on foreign policy -- 46 percent to 34 percent -- but the former Massachusetts governor scored better than the former congressional leader when voters pondered who would do a better job if the nation was attacked -- 42 percent for Romney and 37 percent for Gingrich.
Republicans see Gingrich as a better choice to set foreign policy by drawing lines in the sand, but they have less confidence that Gingrich will make the right decisions if the line is crossed, said Paleologos.
The poll of 400 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters was taken from Dec. 10 through Dec. 14 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
