Romney, Palin lead in new GOP poll, Herman Cain not far behind

Potential GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain, the former chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza, speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition event March 7, 2011 in Waukee, Iowa.

/ Steve Pope/Getty Images

A new Gallup poll shows that former governors Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin remain the presumed frontrunners in the GOP presidential race, but little-known Herman Cain ties for third.

The potential field of Republican presidential nominees has narrowed in recent weeks, leaving Romney with 17 percent support and Sarah Palin at 15 percent. Republican voters, however, remain largely dissatisfied with their choices -- 22 percent in the poll, conducted May 20-24, said there was no candidate they preferred.

The lack of any strong frontrunner appears to have opened the door for the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, who has no experience in elected office. Cain is essentially tied for third place in the Gallup poll at 8 percent. Rep. Ron Paul received 10 percent support, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won 9 percent in the poll, which had a four-point margin of error.

In spite of Cain's lack of name recognition, those who do know him have a good opinion of him, according to Gallup, and the businessman won high marks for his performance in the first GOP debate.

Cain managed to win more support in this poll, albeit within the margin of error, than former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who won just 6 percent, in spite of his relatively aggressive campaigning.

While Romney appears to have relatively tepid support as the frontrunner, the Gallup poll shows he maintains his lead among certain constituencies that could be critical. He leads the field at 19 percent among church-going Republicans, as he does among self-identified conservatives.

The 10 candidates included in the Gallup poll include seven who have officially declared their candidacies or established exploratory committees. It also includes former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Rep. Michele Bachmann, who have taken steps indicating they'll enter the race, as well as Sarah Palin, whose candidacy is less certain.

Recent signs suggest Palin is moving toward a run, including the upcoming release of a pro-Palin documentary and published reports she has purchased a home in Arizona.

[Barbbtx]

Seriously, they should have given Ron Paul more credit.
I know how I feel when Cain is ignored.
Like Cain's great speech sat. at Faith and Freedom. I don't think it even aired on C-span at all. I had a hec of a time finding it online and it wasn't professional so it wasn't C-sapns. Ron Paul was on though as was EVERYBODY else. If I'm wrong, I apologize but I can't find it even on their website.

[GlenBradley]

You are right. The media stifles open debate by picking and choosing the acceptable winners. They have gone so far as to blot the names of Presidential Candidates out of pie charts when they did too well in a Primary. It seems to me that not one news network is dedicated to uncovering actual truth anymore.

[Mark_Merrill]

Way to maintain you slide into irrelevance, CBS! Distorting the poll placement as a love letter for Cain. Even Gingrich beat Cain. The fourth estate is becoming a joke in this country. Grow a pair, CBS. There will still be some corporations to sponsor you in existence, even after Dr. Paul helps us put them on an even playing field.

You bunch of corporatist clowns. Cowards.
Ron Paul 2012!

[brianmanasco]

i believe the headline here should be about ron paul. cbs, give fair coverage. don't be like everyone else. ron paul 2012!

[GlenBradley]

"Cain has no ceiling." Yes, the press wants you to believe this, because he supported TARP, the Fed, and the status quo in foreign policy, domestic policy, and monetary policy. The establishment powers that be, will do anything to preserve the status quo, which transcends Democrats and Republicans alike. I always get a chuckle out of these people who complain about how horribly the country is being run, but then turn around and vote for the same kinda guy in the next election.

The truth is, in fact, there is no substantive difference in policy between George W Bush and Barack H Obama, and yet people like Barbtx almost certainly thinks they are as different as night and day. Obama on average spends about 10% more than Bush, aaaaaand.... that's about the only real difference between them.

You say "Obamacare" and I say "Medicare Part D" the one is just as socialistic as the other.

Y'all are going to have to break out of this media incepted paradigm which tells you that "only corporate-establishment hand-picked candidates are electable" or you are gonna keep having 'more of the same' until our country finally collapses under it's own weight and debt.

What point is "electable" if they are just gonna keep crashing the country as fast as the last 4 Presidents?

It's time to unplug from the corporate propaganda channels masquerading as news, ladies and gentlemen. If you don't, we're just going deeper into this crisis whether the President is an (R) or a (D).

[xtrabiggg61]

"Ron Who?' I've seen many ask..

The only people who ask "Ron Who?' are people who only get their information spoon-fed to them by the Mainstream Media. THey don't know that the Military (rank-and-file - NOT the Industrialists!) supported Ron Paul more than any other candidate from ANY party in 2008. Ron Paul, the only candidate who actually UNDERSTANDS economics (rather than regurgitating talking points). Ron Paul, who says what hee means, means what he says, and does what he says he's going to do. Ron Paul, the candidate that the elites from both the Demopublican AND Republicratic parties are so afraid of that they don't want their lackeys in the bought-and-paid-for media even MENTIONING him in a favorable light. Ron Paul, the candidate who gets bigger crowds on college campuses than ANY other candidate (can't count Obama's union-pumped-up astroturf crowds).

Ron Who? Don't be lazy- get the answer yourself, inform yourself, or do the rest of us a favor and don't vote from ignorance!

[yaqov777]

"Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com". This is debatable. No mention of Ron Pual who is clearly one of the front runners? Stop trying to manipulate public opinion with your biased reporting!

If you love the Constitution and the principles the founding fathers established this country upon, there is only one choice in 2012, Ron Paul.

[GlenBradley]

Wow, Ron Paul is strong in third when including Sarah Palin, and tied for SECOND without Palin, and imagine that -- zero mention whatsoever. This from the same people who would leave a blank place in their pie charts when Ron Paul came in second in a primary in 2008. Anybody else as unsurprised as I am?

[techcommuser]

This story is biased. They are trying to diminish Ron Paul (he was 3rd, yet not in the headline, Cain was ranked 5th, not "essentially tied for 3rd" and uplift Herman Cain. You put Cain in the headline, and leave Paul in the "small print." Please report the REAL facts instead of this deceptional reporting.

[GlenBradley]

Not to mention that when you look at the crosstabs, Ron Paul is in FIRST place amongst independents, moderates, and liberals -- the very people we will need to siphon votes from to beat Barack Obama.

[Amy3518]

The point of the story is that Cain is basically an unknown and came in tied for third (looking at the margin error of the poll). Paul isn't an unknown.

[dbarsell_dotmac]

The military-industrial complex, corrupt politicians, global bankers, Wall Street insiders, the FED, the biased media, the waterboarders, and the IRS don't like what we're doing.
But every good American (and liberty-loving, law-abiding person of the world) is applauding us, and daring to hope for a better future.
President Ron Paul 2012

[daffy64]

Honestly, the USA needs a strong second choice. But sadly, the Republican party is not going to be able to provide one. These are all very weak candidates indeed. It's sad that the next election is going to be "handed" to Obama. Not because of his own merit, but because he's the "lesser of two evils".

Poor GOP. You've been kidnapped by 'baggers, birthers, and buffoons.

[justme2012]

So, I take it Demcrats plan to offer no other choice besides Obama? It's take the socialist or nothing for them.