Romney, Palin Top GOP Choices for 2012, Poll Shows

AP

Republican voters consider former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin their top choices for a 2012 GOP presidential contender, according to a new Gallup Poll

When presented with a field of 12 potential 2012 GOP candidates, 19 percent of those surveyed chose Romney as their top choice, and 16 percent chose Palin. They were followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 12 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 9 percent and Rep. Ron Paul with 7 percent.

In addition to the 12 candidates offered, 1 percent of respondents volunteered New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as their top choice. While the 12 potential candidates included in the survey are all considered possible contenders, it is widely thought that Christie, who is in his first year as governor, would not choose to pursue a 2012 presidential bid.

Gallup previously polled likely Republican voters about their preferred 2012 presidential candidate in February, leaving the question open-ended. Romney and Palin were the most frequently mentioned in that poll as well, though most Republicans (42 percent) said they had no opinion.

Among Democratic voters, 37 percent said they would support Secretary of State Hillary Clinton if she were to challenge President Obama in 2012, according to Gallup. Fifty-two percent said they would support Mr. Obama.

While the president has yet to announce his bid for another term, it is rare for a president to not seek re-election. Clinton has said unequivocally in previous interviews that she has no intention to run for president again, but that hasn't stopped her supporters from hoping. In fact, the first 2012 presidential ad to air on television was in support of Clinton.

15 Photos

2012 Republican Contenders

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[JanetteBarr]

In response to the 1st comment. I would say if the candidate pool that you are talking is shallow then you have nothing to worry about, right? It does not get any simpler than that. Believe in the reformed health care. I'm assuming that the majority of our fellow citizenry favors the new health care. Tell me how to get a job like yours that pays well bc I do not think I can afford it. Billions of dlls on the reformed health care and we do not seem to know how to save pension. Pension is still valuable for millions of seniors that have worked and worked like an ox they deserve back what they put in.

[rmonroe401]

Just goes to show how f#@king shallow their candidate pool is. With Palin second it shows how stupid people are in this country. They elected a monkey like GWB Jr. so why not a clown like Palin. She will run this country into the ground further and make sure we turn into third world country. But hey, she will have plenty of dough from backroom deals and stealing from the American people, so why not. Idiots.

[JV1970]

Apparently you didn't read larryp0304's comment below because you need a lesson on who is REALLY stealing from the American people. I'm going to copy it here. Maybe you'll actually read it this time!


by larryp0304 October 1, 2010 11:54 AM EDT
Obama's radical left wing policies are costing the average working person more money. Bank fees have gone up along with credit card rates. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed and will continue to do so and it's all because of Obama. You liberals for all your chest beating about how smart you are, really do mirror your leader. All book smarts with zero common sense. "IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID"! It's ok, keep up with the character assassination and the inane dribble that you type. Next month is gonna hit you people like a ton of bricks and man am I going to LAUGH!!!!


It's not Palin or GWB Jr. who's stealing from the American people! It's Barack Hussein Obama! You'll say that too when you start feeling it in your wallet! I already have! My credit card rates have doubled in the last few months since his banking "regulations" went into place!

[addict42]

The American public gets the government it deserves. So if the GOP takes the house in November and successfully blocks all legislation and any progress for the Nation while it derails banking and energy regulations, repeals heathcare reform, and increases wealth for the rich while outsourcing jobs thus increasing unemployment, then the citizens of the US are to blame. Corporate citizens are very excited about what's to take place...goodbye middle class morans! Hope you like it in your parents basement or at the shelter LOL!!!!

[Dave_P6]

"by Nmmrng October 1, 2010 1:01 PM EDT
Democrats destroyed the country as soon as they started regaining power . Everything was fine until then. They came in in 2007 and everything went to hell in cluding the environment."*****LMAO. If you think everything was fine before Obama and a Dem majority you live in a fantasy world. Things are better now then they were under Bush and putting Republicans back in the majority will threaten to unravel everything that's been accomplished and get us back to the mess we had 2001 - 2008. Then watch Republicans blame it on Obama.

[Dave_P6]

"by JV1970 October 1, 2010 12:42 PM EDT
They will! You can count on it! The Republicans are still projected to take the house and probably gain a few seats in the senate. They might even win both the house and the senate!"
Yeah, pretty depressing. The party that wrecked the economy might be in the majority because there are enough clueless people out there to vote for them.

[superdem1]

I truly can't understand all this "spend us into oblivion" stuff - we're getting roads, highways, bridges, water projects, new green energy projects - that money isn't going down the rathole, like it was during the Bush Administration, we're rebuilding our rotting infrastructure, and keeping police, teachers, and firefighters working. And those wages are going back into the grocery stores, the clothes stores, and paying rents and mortgages. The Republican alternative ? Complete chaos and market rip-offs, unregulated corporations doing whatever they please, destroyed social safety nets, and every man for himself, not to mention forcing women to have their rapist's baby - good night ! I've been fighting Republicans since 1972, they were liars then and they are liars now, I don't dare what President Obama does or doesn't do. Republcian economics have proven to be disaster, and that was only two years ago - how stupid do you have to be to put them back in charge ?

[hhandyman]

Brother Romney has a nice family but his political path is not quite correct way to Right winged and hawkish for my vote. Sara is a waste of airtime cant think on her feet and has limited common sence.
If theyre elected then this country will be doomed to more Bush like years of steal from the common man and give to the rich in hopes they may scatter loose change for paychecks to the less employed. Keep the common man hungry for more and give them a hint at a chance for it Tease just out of reach.. Classic sour grapes story with the Under insured and down on thier luck even further from a decent paying J O B.

That is where they want us. successfull enough to buy but broke enough to be in want all the time. like a 15 year old with Car keys but no license. under constant temptation Not to step beyond a law to feel free.

[JV1970]

If you really want to know who is stealing from the common man just read larryp0304's comment above! Every word is true!

[larrryshrine]

This couldn't be better news for Dems. We have Romney, who has great hair but is a religious extremist and is either for or against universal health care, we cant be sure. And we have Palin, who is not a rocket scientist, and is deeply divisive in her own party and unpopular with voters overall. You betcha.

[peperz]

why do liberals think that anyone that has religion, believes in God and prays, is a "religious extremist". it's true that a "fanatic" or "extremist" is anyone who loves God a little more than you do. it's the libs I've found that righteously think that because they sit in church, they know God. how smug.

[Dave_P6]

"Mickey Mouse could run for the GOP in 12 and win. Obama is done and anyone who is honest and has a bit of sense knows this. If the election were today, Obama would lose. You Democrats have totally lost the independents and you know it. As proof look no farther than Conn. Blumenthal's 41 point lead has vanished and that race is a dead heat. It's like that all over. Races that a few months ago were stone cold democrat locks are now slipping away. I wonder why? ROTFLMAO!"*****Actually, if elections were held today, he'd beat Sarah Palin and it would be close with Romney...And for as much as Republicans are "kicking butt" they still may not even get a majority in the House or the Senate.

[JV1970]

They will! You can count on it! The Republicans are still projected to take the house and probably gain a few seats in the senate. They might even win both the house and the senate!

[tsigili]

Neither is a good enough challenger. We need a newer potential candidate, lesser known, who has more to offer the citizens, as a better option.