< Back to front page Text size – +

Republican contenders lagging in early 2012 poll

E-mail|Link|Comments () Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 5, 2009 07:28 PM

There's another very early read on the potential Republican presidential field for 2012, and it's not very encouraging for them.

The USA Today/Gallup poll released today found that three high-profile former governors with their own followings -- Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and Sarah Palin of Alaska -- lead the pack among Republicans questioned.

But the worrisome finding for the GOP is that among all Americans, the poll found that no candidate was able to get a majority to say they would seriously consider voting for him or her for president.

Here are the numbers: 71 percent of Republicans but only 40 percent of all respondents said they would seriously consider voting for Huckabee, who ran last year and now has a talk show on Fox News Channel; 65 percent of Republicans and 39 percent of all Americans said they would consider Romney, who also ran last year; and 65 percent of Republicans but only 33 percent overall said they would seriously consider Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate last year.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour drew even less support.

tags 2012 presidential race, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin

» Back to front page

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

see all Globe blogs

Globe Political on Twitter

Loading from twitter...

Follow GlobePolitical on Twitter

News from the Washington Bureau

Support wanes for curbs on credit-card interest rates

Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Globe Staff, 11/19/09)

Obama domestic agenda largely a one-party effort

Despite early pleas for bipartisanship, President Obama is forging ahead with his domestic agenda with a largely single-party strategy, unable to corral more than a handful of Republicans on a wide range of major legislation before Congress. (Globe Staff, 11/17/09)

Beirut attack victims’ families face new hurdle

On Veterans Day, Christine Devlin stood in the cold in Westwood for the unveiling of a new memorial to local soldiers lost overseas, including her son Michael, one of the 241 servicemen killed in the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983. (Globe Staff, 11/14/09)

Powerful health care groups offer optimism on overhaul

Two leading health care interest groups, representing insurers and big business, struck a more conciliatory, even optimistic tone on the health care overhaul yesterday, emphasizing their support of the overall goal of increasing coverage and containing costs even as they warned that the wrong bill could cause great harm. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

FHA runs low on cash, fueling bailout concerns

The Federal Housing Administration, which propped up the collapsing housing market last year, acknowledged yesterday that it has drained its cash reserves to dangerously low levels, heightening concerns that it might need a taxpayer bailout. (Globe Staff, 11/13/09)

Earmarks’ cash flow lifts firms, lobbyists, lawmakers

16 defense-related firms in Massachusetts have secured nearly $30 million in federal funding in next year's defense appropriations bill pending in Congress. The tally offers a lesson in the practice known as congressional earmarking, in which lawmakers direct federal money to specific projects, usually in their districts. (Globe Staff, 11/12/09)

Afghanistan wary of US plan to send more advisers

Afghan officials have begun to push back from the Obama administration's plans to send hundreds of advisers to the country, complaining the Americans are often overpaid, underqualified, and unfamiliar with the culture of the country. (Globe Staff, 11/12/09)