A new survey by Pew Research Center shows Mitt Romney still outpacing his Republican rivals nationally, but offers further evidence of a lack of enthusiasm among primary voters.
In the poll, which was released earlier today, Romney comes in at 27 percent, while Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are locked in a tie for second with 16 percent. But the most disconcerting detail for Republicans is the tepid impression the field has made on the base.
From Pew:
On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Republican voters continue to express mixed views of the party’s presidential field. Roughly half (51%) of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say the candidates are excellent or good, while 44% say they are only fair or poor.
The percentage expressing positive views of the GOP presidential field is largely unchanged from 48% in November and 49% in August. Republicans and GOP leaners expressed much more positive views of the presidential field at a comparable point four years ago: In January 2008, 68% of Republicans and Republican leaners said they had good candidates to choose from, as did 78% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
