http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/08/perry-tops-new-gallup-poll-by-12-points/1?csp=34news
Perry tops new Gallup poll by 12 points
Comments 805 By Jackie Kucinich, USA TODAY Updated 32m ago
Days after launching his campaign, Texas Gov. Rick Perry surged into the lead of the race for the Republican nomination, according to a Gallup poll released today.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry tops the latest Gallup poll. CAPTIONBy Richard Shiro, AP
Perry leads former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the previous front-runner, by 12 percentage points, 29%-17%. Texas Rep. Ron Paul places third with 13% support from those surveyed, followed by Rep. Michele Bachmann with 10%
Romney maintained a fragile lead in Gallup's polls for months and Perry's ability to surpass him after only one full week of campaigning, at the time of the poll, shows how vulnerable Romney's front-runner status is.
In addition, Perry's entrance into the race has slowed Bachmann's steady rise in the polls despite her straw poll win in Iowa.
The poll did not reflect Perry's rocky transition from Texas governor to presidential candidate.
In his first days on the trail, Perry received criticism from the right and the left after his controversial comments on evolution, climate change and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's handling of the economy.
Businessman Herman Cain received 4% of the vote. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich and former senator Rick Santorum each received 3%. Former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman received 1% of the vote.
The poll showed there was interest in runs by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. Palin has indicated she would make her decision by the end of September, and Giuliani has said he will make his mind up by the end of the summer.
Their addition to the poll does little to change the results.
Of the Republicans and Republican-leaning independents surveyed, 25% said Perry would be their first choice to be the GOP nominee in 2012. Romney received 14% of the vote, while Palin and Paul received 11% each.
Tea Party darling Bachmann finished a distant fifth with 7%, behind Giuliani.
Perry announced his intention to run for president Aug. 13. Before that announcement, Perry received 15% of the vote, behind Romney who had 17%.
Perry fared even better among those asked about their first or second choice. Forty percent of those surveyed said Perry would be either their first or second choice for the Republican nominee. Romney finished next with 26%, followed by Palin at 21% and Bachmann at 20%.
The poll of 1,040 adults was taken August 17-21 and has a margin of error of +/-4 percentage points.
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