PPP Poll: Gingrich Ahead Nationally — But In Decline

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The new national survey from Public Policy Polling (D): Gingrich 35%, Romney 22%, Paul 11%, Bachmann 7% Perry 6%, Santorum 4%, Huntsman 3%, Johnson 1%.

From the pollster’s analysis:

On the surface that’s good news for Gingrich but looking under the hood it’s more bad news to some extent. We haven’t done a national poll in 5 weeks, too long ago to make a good comparison, but on 6 state polls we’ve conducted since Thanksgiving in Florida, Montana, North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, and New Mexico Newt has always had a lead of at least 19 points over Romney with the average of those polls coming out to a 27 point advantage at 42-15. His present national lead represents some serious shrinkage from that. He’s also seen a 13 point decline in his net favorability from our last national poll, going from +45 (68/23) to +32 (60/28).

The most interesting finding in this national poll might be that Romney’s net favorability has improved 15 points in the last month from just +9 (48/39) to now +24 (55/31). Republican voters are starting to warm up to him in a way that could pave his path to the nomination. Beyond that Romney is clearly next in line to take the national lead if Gingrich continues to falter. Not only is he 11 points clear of Paul, his closest competitor, but he’s the 2nd choice of 35% of Gingrich voters compared to 16% for Bachmann, 11% for Perry and Santorum, and only 6% for Paul. If Newt’s people keep jumping ship they’re likely to end up with Romney.

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