Rasmussen released a national poll of GOP voters on Thursday that confirmed the strong surge by businessman Herman Cain, who shot to the top of the NBC/WSJ poll from Wednesday. The new Rasmussen has Cain tied with former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney at 29 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in third after Texas Gov. Rick Perry continues his fall: Perry only gets 9 percent in the poll, which he led less than a month ago.
More data points from the survey:
“Regardless of who they want to win, 51% expect Romney will eventually become the GOP nominee. Seventeen percent (17%) think Cain will win the nomination and 13% pick Perry.
If nominated, 80% believe Romney would be at least somewhat likely to beat President Obama in the general election. Seventy-two percent (72%) hold that view of Cain and 67% say the same about Perry.
Cain draws support from a plurality (44%) of Tea Party voters, while a plurality (32%) of non-Tea Party members supports Romney in the GOP primary race.”
