New poll shows Mitt Romney back on top

By: Lucy Madison
Topics: Campaign 2012

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

(Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Texas Governor Rick Perry rose to the top of the polls after jumping into the presidential race this August, surpassing longtime frontrunner Mitt Romney. A new survey, however, suggests that Romney is regaining his frontrunner status.

The poll, conducted by Fox News from September 25-27, gives Romney the lead with 23 percent support to Perry's 19 percent. Herman Cain, who won Florida's straw poll last weekend, trailed Perry by just two points, with 17 percent support -- reflecting a big boost for the former Godfather's Pizza CEO.

Michele Bachmann, meanwhile, continued her race to the bottom with just three percent support (down from eight percent in August), trailing former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman by a point.

In a survey conducted by Fox less than a month earlier, Perry stood at 29 percent, with Romney at 22 percent. During the same period, Cain has nearly tripled his strength; as of August, the poll found he had just six percent support.

Romney was widely considered the Republican frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination until August, when Perry jumped into the race as a late entrant. Since then, the two have been neck-and-neck in most polls - usually with Perry eking out a slim lead over the former Massachusetts governor.

But after a series of Republican presidential debates in which Perry struggled, the Texas Republican appears to be losing some traction among voters.

"He needs to regroup," said University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato, in an interview with the Texas Tribune. "He's so uneven. He's done well sometimes, poorly others. It's unusual that you have a candidate who does show such a disparity in performance. I think part of that is exhaustion."

"Saturday Night Live" has taken to mocking Perry's debate performances; in its season-opening episode, a sketch depicts a mock-Perry getting flustered and incoherent over the course of a debate.

"This is normally when you get tired and confused," the moderator tells the Perry character at one point.

Meanwhile, Romney continues to lead Perry in hypothetical match-ups against President Obama: According to the Fox poll, Mr. Obama had a three-point lead over Romney among all registered voters. When pitted against Perry, Mr. Obama led by eight points.

Lucy Madison
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by sdpianomom September 30, 2011 3:30 PM EDT: It's good to see Republicans coming to their senses. Romney and Cain are both fabulous choices. We need to get rid of those career politicians and get some experienced businessmen in there to help our economy. My vote is Romney for Pres. and Cain for VP. What a powerful team!!!; Reply to this comment

by tsigili September 30, 2011 11:01 AM EDT

He's only back on top, because the Tea Party got ticked off at someone else. He didn't gain any percentage points at all........which says his numbers are unchanged......but the previous leader dropped.

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by OnTheCrown September 30, 2011 4:43 PM EDT: Does this mean Romney isn't the Tea Party candidate? That could be a good thing.


by tvwatcher5345 September 30, 2011 7:28 AM EDT: vote for ron paul or obama, gets the neocons out of our government, the invasion of iraq cost over 4,000 Americans their lives, cost billions, and resulted in an iranian superpower. (thank you bill krystol your mommy thinks you did a great job) how many who post against obama voted for the dumbest president (bush)who got us into this mess in iraq and how many who post against obama supported the iraq invasion, the worst military blunder in modern times; Reply to this comment


by nearl451 September 30, 2011 2:45 AM EDT: Wow what an exciting field.

YAAAAAWWWWN. Guess, I'll go to bed.; Reply to this comment


by carolo43 September 30, 2011 12:12 AM EDT: Perry entered the race and people flocked to him without knowing anything he stood for. Now they are seeing what a nut he is and beginning to use their brains again. They did the same thing when Palin first entered the scene and we can see where she is now. No where. When you go after social security, you loose.; Reply to this comment


by whatthehellbook September 29, 2011 10:11 PM EDT: Let's go Herman Cain! I'm glad to see he's gaining momentum. I like Ron Paul too but there are parts of his foreign policy I just can't get behind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjRcO1Sm0HU; Reply to this comment


by lucifersshadow September 29, 2011 8:16 PM EDT: This is good news, Perry is scary, he makes George Bush look like a genius. I like Romney as a person, but I would not vote for him, I think Huntsman, Cain, or Paul would be better presidents. Romney's statement that "corporations are people", is just a little to much for me to stomach.; Reply to this comment


by tsigili September 29, 2011 8:06 PM EDT: Only because the FL Tea Party got mad at Perry, and switched all of their support to Cain.

Romney didn't actually gain anything himself.; Reply to this comment

by smehl1506 September 29, 2011 4:52 PM EDT

Doesn't anyone else see the stupidity of this ridiculous campaign coverage by the media?

Herman Cain won a straw poll of Republican activitist in Florida with a grand total of 937 votes, and you would think he had won the California primary. It is 14 months before the election, people, so none of this means squat in the larger scheme of things.

Same is true of this poll, although it does give us a glimpse of the kind of Republican Party we are talking about in 2011. Perry displays a rare bit of honesty and principle on the immigration issue and drops like a rock.

In the meantime, none of the candidates have the guts to call out the Tea Party haters who boo gay servicemen and root for uninsured cancer patients to die. But that has no effect on the party polling numbers.

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by forsanity1 September 29, 2011 6:26 PM EDT: enrique, you have no idea what a Marxist is, so in reply:

You don't get it.


by stevex47 September 29, 2011 4:39 PM EDT: Yeeehawww, we needs' us another cowboy in office !

Worked out great last time yall !; Reply to this comment