Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is spending one more week atop the Republican field in the contest for that party’s presidential nomination. In this week’s Economist/YouGov Poll, 29% of registered voters who say they will likely vote in a Republican caucus or primary in 2012 favor Gingrich, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney trails in second place with 18%.
Once again, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is third. Gingrich runs eight points better among Republican voters who identify with the Tea Party than with those who do not. He also runs especially well with less well-off and less-educated GOP voters. College graduates favor Romney.
But with less than three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses, there is evidence that many GOP voters still aren’t happy with the field. This week, only 42% of them say they are satisfied with the candidates running; 28% want other choices. Two weeks ago, before businessman Herman Cain suspended his campaign, 51% said they were satisfied with their options.
And President Barack Obama still leads each of the three top Republicans in a head to head November matchup. Romney fares the best, trailing by just three points, within the poll’s margin of error. Gingrich trails Obama by nine points, and Paul trails the President by seven.
Photo source: Press Association
