Monmouth University: Romney 33%, Gingrich 22%, Santorum 14% en SC

Monmouth University:

Fresh off victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, Mitt Romney has a clear lead in South Carolina’s upcoming primary according to the Monmouth University Poll. The former Massachusetts governor registers 33% support among likely Republican voters in Saturday’s primary. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich places second at 22%. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (14%) and Texas Congressman Ron Paul (12%) are in a close contest for third place. Rick Perry trails with 6%. Jon Huntsman earned 4% before he pulled out of the race on Monday.

Gingrich (30%) does best among those who call themselves very conservative, leading both Romney (25%) and Santorum (21%) among this voting bloc. But Romney does particularly well among voters who see themselves as somewhat conservative (39%) and moderate or liberal (38%). Gingrich also does well among those who say they strongly support the Tea Party movement – a group that represents more than one-third of the likely electorate – with 31%, to 29% for Romney. However, Romney bests Gingrich among those who support the movement only somewhat (39% to 17%) and either oppose or have no strong opinion about the Tea Party (31% to 15%).

Evangelical Christians, making up a majority of likely GOP voters in South Carolina, have been considered a weak group for Romney. He appears to be holding his own, though, earning 29% of this group’s vote to 26% for Gingrich and 19% for Santorum. Romney is the clear leader among nonevangelical voters at 37% to 17% for Gingrich and 9% for Santorum.

“Governor Romney appears to be consolidating his status as the one to beat. While he doesn’t enjoy an outright majority, he performs well with every major voting bloc possibly because the field is still crowded,” said Patrick Murray, director of the non-partisan Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

El sondeo es anterior al debate de ayer. Está hecho entre el 12 y el 15 de enero con entrevistas a 963 probables votantes.