Mitt Romney Still Up In New Hampshire While Donald Trump Remains Wild Card

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney leads potential Republican primary opponents in the early voting state of New Hampshire, but celebrity candidate Donald Trump has substantial support, according to a new poll.

Public Policy Polling's survey, released on Tuesday, showed 31 percent support for Romney, who many see as the front-runner for the Republican nomination to go up against Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election.

That was similar to the 32 percent that Romney received in the state's 2008 primary, when he finished second to John McCain, but down from 40 percent when the group last polled in November. Romney has not officially announced a bid.

"Mitt Romney's looked like the runaway favorite in all of our New Hampshire polling to date," said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling.

New Hampshire will hold its primary on Feb 14, 2012. Candidates jockey for position in the first-in-the-nation primary, which often sets the tone for the campaign season.

Behind Romney were former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee with 15 percent support, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich at 13 percent, and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, each at 10 percent.

Tim Pawlenty, former Minnesota governor, and Minnesota Congresswoman and Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann each got 4 percent support, while 12 percent were undecided.

The surprise was Trump, real estate magnate and host of TV show "The Apprentice," who has hinted at a long-shot bid for the nomination.

If Trump were to run, some 21 percent of New Hampshire Republicans said they would vote for him, dropping support for Romney down to 27 percent and eating away at votes for most other candidates.

"Donald Trump's the first person to hold (Romney ) to a single digit lead. He really could prove to be a serious candidate if he gets into the race." Debnam said.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 384 usual New Hampshire Republican primary voters from March 31 to April 3. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

(Reporting by Ros Krasny)

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

 

 

Comments

[bootstrap bill]

01:39 AM on 04/12/2011

These kinds of way-early polls are silly and I don't know why people take them seriously. The field is undefined and the real game is still eons into the future.

[outwest06]

01:52 AM on 04/07/2011

With Trump doing so well, I don't know who comes off worse -- the caliber of the Republican candidates or the mentality of Republican voters. More and more, Republican presidential politics are resembling a reality show contest. That is why I think that, with their experience in reality TV shows, Trump and Palin have the best chance of getting the nomination.

[leonel]

01:17 AM on 04/07/2011

Trump made a bad first impression with his nonsense support for the birther arguments. Looking for cheap publicity. What was he thinking. Could not have had good political advice. If he is serious he will need to be more careful. Get off his high horse before he commits any more bad impressions.

[xlntcat]

04:22 AM on 04/09/2011

undefined

[xlntcat]

04:23 AM on 04/09/2011

Maybe he had been given a heads up that Beck's time slot was opening up.

[rebel9999]

04:47 PM on 04/06/2011

I just want Trump in the debates.

[UnRed]

04:38 PM on 04/06/2011

Has Trump produced an official birth certificate yet?

[Snerdgronk]

04:18 PM on 04/06/2011

Some say Trump is unqualified to be President. All he has ever done is bankrupt companies and leave others holding the bag .... But, wouldn't that make him uniquely qualified to be the (R) nominee ... ?

Snerd

[xlntcat]

04:24 AM on 04/09/2011

You have a point.

[Snerdgronk]

06:05 PM on 04/09/2011

Thanx ... It's because I got to play 'Trump' ...

Snerd

[ColoradoCool]

04:13 PM on 04/06/2011

The Donald is a highly successful gr!fter, nothing more.

[JMiler]

04:10 PM on 04/06/2011

I think to blame Trump for dragging down the Republican Party is like Blaming Beck for dragging down Fox News. Both are toilet organizations and they can't be dragged down any lower than they already are. The Republican Party is right there with the Clan and Al-Qaeda in respect to terrorist organizations and why Trump would want to associate with them is a mystery other than he desperately needs the press to keep his despicable TV show cluttering up the airways. As I care little what happens to either party I say keep up the good work Donald and good luck with your show as knuckle draggers need something to watch on TV just like humans.

[Javalation]

03:30 PM on 04/06/2011

Last I heard, officials from the State of Hawaii have more credibility than newspaper speculations. The issue was and still is created out of right wing bile, also called "tea" in conservative circles.

[Macus]

04:05 PM on 04/06/2011

Your argument is laughable especially given the highly "reputable" news sources you've cited. The fact is that the Obama is kenyan narrative has been successfully propagated by the right wing for political gain and is sadly gaining attention overseas.

[SoCalNick]

01:32 PM on 04/06/2011

Trump?

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOL
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

The right would vote for a Sock puppet if it had an (R) by its name.......

That is all

[RightinWA]

04:30 PM on 04/06/2011

you DID vote for a puppet with a D next to the name...

[totaldisbelief]

12:00 PM on 04/06/2011

This entire Campaign is going to be painful to watch, take way too long, get very tiring and be a grand lesson in " How not to do things".......I can feel those brain cells abandoning ship already.

[Totto]

10:28 AM on 04/06/2011

Lots of "pizazz" in the Republican lineup. It's all just SO exciting!

[Gaylord P Farqua]

10:28 AM on 04/06/2011

The greatest fear any of us should have is that The Donald as President would redecorate the White House-Trump Style...

[messy]

09:12 AM on 04/06/2011

This is hilarious!

[Duppy]

09:02 AM on 04/06/2011

Only uneducated Republicans would want a guy like Trump, who has been through numerous wives and bankruptcies to run for president. Some how, there is no standard for Trump, yet Obama gets nothing but grief and criticism from the same crowd. Yep, the party of zeros at work: zero agenda, zero tolerance, zero intelligence