Poll: Gingrich, Romney only "acceptable" candidates to GOP voters

AP Photo

A new poll out from Gallup finds that only Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are considered acceptable presidential candidates by a majority of Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters.

Sixty-two percent called Gingrich an "acceptable" GOP nominee, while 54 percent called Romney "acceptable." (Thirty-four percent called Gingrich unacceptable, and 41 percent said the same of Romney.) While those figures are higher than any of the other Republican presidential candidates, it's worth noting that less than two-thirds sees either man as an acceptable nominee.

The numbers for Ron Paul, who is polling in third in Iowa, are discouraging. Just 34 percent called Paul an acceptable nominee, while 62 percent called him unacceptable. Rick Santorum tied Paul as the candidate seen by the highest percentage of voters as unacceptable.

Texas governor Rick Perry, once seen as a frontrunner for the nomination, was called unacceptable by 52 percent of voters. Fifty-six percent called Michele Bachmann unacceptable, while 58 percent called both Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain (who has suspended his candidacy) unacceptable. Only 28 percent said Huntsman would be an acceptable nominee.

The finding suggest both that the Republican presidential race is moving toward a contest between Gingrich and Romney and that Republicans remain less than thrilled with their options for taking on President Obama in the general election.

Interestingly, self-described Tea Party supporters are generally supportive of both Gingrich and Romney despite the fact that both men have taken positions at odds with those that define the Tea Party - including backing the 2008 TARP bank bailout and supporting an individual health care mandate. Eighty-two percent of Tea Partiers called Gingrich an acceptable candidate, while 58 percent said the same of Romney.

Gingrich does particularly well with Republicans and Republican-leaning independents that are 55 years old or older, with 73 percent of this group calling him acceptable. Sixty-two percent of those 55 or older call Romney acceptable. No other candidate breaks the 50 percent threshold. 

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[Willgopher]

Acceptable to the banksters maybe!

[noloyalisti]

I can't understand why these two would be acceptable to anyone. Especially Gingrinch who has been a Republicon problem for like 25 years.

What we really need to do is to create a second party to run against the RepubliDems Top 1% Party. A few of the Dems could switch over but there is not one Republicon who could be considered with their ideas.

[Cibes]

"by GOPeconomicterror December 6, 2011 7:01 AM EST
Any sources for Paul criticizing the anti American GOP economic terror 2000-2008 while he was in Congress???????
We'll wait."

Here. About two minutes into the video are some clips you might be interested in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWxaGRZ7Nrs

[cntrygirl3]

Maybe I have not given the republican faithful enough credit. At least they know that the most breathtakingly stupid candidates ie Santorum and Bachman are unacceptable. But then again the smartest candidate Mr. Huntsman (not Newtie who thinks he is smarter than everyone) is also unacceptable. More debates, every time these fools open their mouths Obama looks better and better.

[Llewellleo]

The world is watching America and Europe implode under the pressure of super debt, the vultures are circling already but Americans seem to think all is well.China and the East are dominating the world economy and are growing in military strength whilst America is beginning to look like the Roman Empire close to its end with moral decay, poor financial management, division and growing radicalism. What you have is a great militarily and you still are a major world economy but the sun is rising and your star is fading. Republicans and Democrats alike have wasted your money, stolen it and yet you always make the same mistake over and over by appointing corrupt and untrustworthy men to lead. If you imagine you are still the world leader you are sadly mistaken. It is my hope that America will recover, become a great power again, its possible. The World needs a stable and Healthy America.

[noloyalisti]

Basically if you want to remain part of a real middle class, you have to vote for Obama. If you want to be a worker slave for a few filthy rich people, vote Republicon. That is why I think Obama will win in an even bigger landslide than 2008. People of America are just not that stupid to reward the Republicons for their disaster from 2000-2008 (and arguably since the nightmare of Reagan).

[xoxxoxxox]

I was warming up to Gingrich right up until he said that he'd violently oppose medical cannabis for qualifying patients.

[wdh3007]

Even if Gingrich and Romney end up on the same ticket which could happen Ron Paul supporters will either not vote out of disgust or cast one for Obama.

[Jaylah54]

When you stop to think about it, it doesn't make any difference anyway. You *know* that, at the GOP convention, they're going to nominate the candidate that the RNC thinks has the greatest chance of beating Obama. Even if that candidate has the mental capabilities of a turnip.

[formerusmcsgt1]

These Paul supporters are replayng their 2008 strategy claiming that "unseen multitudes" are really supporting Paul.

When it was all said and done, the "unseen multitude" amounted to 6%.

[The_General_1968]

The real poll is here: http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/12/04/iowa-poll-newt-gingrich-most-popular-gop-candidate/
It has Ron Paul at 18%, in second place behind Newt, and Newt will implode one people find out who he really is and what he is all about.