WASHINGTON – Republican Mitt Romney easily leads rival Michele Bachmann in a comparison of the two top declared candidates for the party’s 2012 presidential nomination, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday.
Mr Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has a 40 per cent to 23 per cent lead over Ms Bachmann among Republicans and independents. Among independents only, Mr Romney’s lead was 10 percentage points.
Mr Romney leads in national polls and fundraising, but many Republicans have been left cold by the party’s candidates and have urged others to join the race.
Ms Bachmann, a US representative from Minnesota and an outspoken social conservative, has made an early campaign splash with heavy backing from Tea Party fiscal conservatives. But her ability to broaden her support will be critical.
The poll showed nearly half of the independents surveyed, 49 per cent, were undecided. Mr Romney led among independents by 27 per cent to 17 per cent.
Some polls show Ms Bachmann leading in Iowa, which kicks off the nominating battle and has an influential base of social and religious conservatives. Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who was popular with the conservative base, won Iowa in 2008 but could not duplicate that success elsewhere. – (Reuters)