A poll conducted by Magellan Strategies for the New Hampshire Journal finds that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts remains in the lead in the first primary state, but a new candidate -- Gov. Rick Perry of Texas -- makes his debut with a strong second-place showing.
The poll was unveiled Wednesday.
Romney led the pack in New Hampshire with 36 percent. Perry, who announced his presidential bid on Saturday, took second with 18 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who placed second in the Iowa Republican straw poll, took third with 14 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, winner of the event in Iowa, with 10 percent.
The rest of the field lagged behind in low single digits. Businessman Herman Cain and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman tied for fifth with 3 percent apiece. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich took seventh with 2 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania trailed with 1 percent.
The poll -- with a sample of 70 percent Republicans and 30 percent independents -- found that Romney remains the most popular candidate, with 66 percent of those surveyed holding a favorable opinion of him compared to 24 percent who view him unfavorably. A bare majority -- 51 percent -- have a favorable view of Perry, while 27 percent see him as unfavorable. Bachmann pulled 49 percent who see her as favorable and 39 percent as unfavorable. Cain recorded mixed marks, with 36 percent seeing him as favorable, while 34 percent view him as unfavorable.
The rest of the pack is upside down. Thirty-nine percent see Paul as favorable, but 47 percent see him as unfavorable. Santorum was seen as favorable by 30 percent, while 42 percent find the former senator unfavorable. Huntsman has the lowest favorable number -- 20 percent -- while 47 percent of those surveyed view him as unfavorable. A clear majority -- 60 percent -- see Gingrich as unfavorable, while only 29 percent regard the former congressional leader as favorable.
The poll of 613 likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire was taken on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, after Perry announced his campaign and after the Iowa straw poll in Ames. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.96 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
