Ron Paul most "unacceptable" candidate, Iowa Republicans say in new poll

(Photo by Steve Pope/Getty Images)

Updated at 12:30 p.m. ET

A new poll of likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa shows Mitt Romney and Ron Paul running neck and neck for the GOP presidential nomination, but luckily for Romney, those voters also call Paul the most "unacceptable" candidate running.

As many as 41 percent of likely caucus-goers said they would find Paul "not acceptable as the Republican nominee for president," according to the new NBC News/ Marist poll, conducted December 27-28. Another 35 percent called Paul an acceptable candidate, while 21 percent said they would find him acceptable, but they would have reservations about his candidacy.

By contrast, 21 percent said Romney would be an "unacceptable" candidate. Fifty percent said he would be "acceptable," while 27 percent answered "acceptable but with reservations."

The other candidates -- Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum -- fell in between Romney and Paul on that question.

What happens if Ron Paul wins Iowa?

Despite the difference between the two candidates on whether they would make "acceptable" candidates, Romney and Paul are the two frontrunners in the polls. Twenty-three percent of likely caucus-goers said they support Romney, while 21 percent support Paul. Santorum came in third with 15 percent support, followed by Perry at 14 percent and Gingrich at 13 percent.

The poll mirrors the results of the CNN poll released this week, which also showed Romney and Paul statistically tied in Iowa, with Santorum surging.

Polls suggest that Paul has a natural ceiling of support among GOP voters, largely because of his non-interventionist foreign policy views. A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll found that nearly half of Republican voters feel Paul's foreign policy views are a major reason not to vote for him. Still, as Hotsheet has reported from Iowa, Paul has the best get-out-the-vote organization of any candidate in the state, and a victory there would go a long way toward pushing his libertarian views into the mainstream.

Other responses in the NBC poll also appear to fall in Romney's favor. For instance, when asked to name what's most important to them in deciding who to support, 30 percent of likely caucus-goers said a candidate who shares their values -- but nearly as many, 28 percent, said a candidate who can beat President Obama in 2012.

Support from the conservative Tea Party wing of the party in the latest poll appears to be split among Romney's rivals, with Santorum taking the biggest share at 20 percent. Gingrich last month had strongest Tea Party support.

[myoneselfer]

do you guys keep herds of cattle around so you dont run out of **** to spew at the public......go out and get some real news instead of making it up.....

[Ramone2]

Consider in this case that the term "unacceptable" is relative and won't apply for many if the choice is between Paul and Obama.

The natural ceiling for Ron Paul among GOP voters wouldn't apply in the general election and may or may not apply if it comes down to a choice between Paul and Romney in the primaries.

[Treg4RonPaul]

Here is Arizona, we can't wait for Iowa to send us Ron Paul. Thousands and thousands of people here praying Iowa tells America that Ron Paul is her choice. Lets beat Romney and Obama with America's true and original and very wise Conservative, Doctor Ron Paul.

[mariner34]

Unacceptable to the GOP establishment who want big government as much as the dems do. But very acceptable to us the people who want a Conservative Constitutional Christian in office as President

[greco99-2009]

Ron Paul = 60 percent acceptable to Republicans.

Mitt Romney = 80 percent acceptable to Republicans.

Iowa is 30 percent independents. Factor these people in, and The numbers probably switch.

[mariner34]

Romney is unelectable, and besides he would just usher in more government. Ron Paul was the only republican to stand with isreal in 1981 when isreal bombed an iraq nuclear plant, all the other republicans turned on isreal.

Conservatives will not vote for Romney and it will lead to 4 more years of obama

[LudwigVonMises]

The presstututes are working overtime in their efforts to marginalize, mock and smear Ron Paul. They are in full panic mode, and they have the anti-Paul propaganda machine running in overdrive.



Please help Ron Paul counter-punch the attackers by donating to the Ron Paul money bomb. Visit his official website: http://www.ronpaul2012.com/



Let's make this a truly Happy New Year by supporting the only man who will really change anything in Washington.

[Brian2012rp]

CBS the biggest liars in the industry, let alone the fact they gave Ron Paul 89sec in their debate. No one cares what you think or any other media outlet for that matter. People that want to what Ron Paul is about will research him on his site, youtube etc. We don't need you to pick a handful of people to poll or to pick our candidate for us. No one cares what you think CBS! RON PAUL 2012!

[btherr61]

Ron Paul a raving lunatic ? Bring our troops home from wars and countries that we shouldn't have occupied in the first place...Do you know who finances these countries and even Al Queida? It is lunacy to cut the national debt? unnecessary spending?, Why are we paying China BILLIONS a day to support our military efforts over seas? that is lunacy I ask ? Is it lunacy for Dr. Paul to cut a Trillion dollars the national defecate ? Is it lunacy to take care of the people of the United States for once instead of invading and occupying sovereign countries who despise the west in the first place ? Dig up more dirt in these desperate times... I know that all the anti Ron Paul rhetoric has nothing to back it up... But people will believe what they want to...

[occupy_cbs]

starspangledbanner: "The GOP has lost its way. It doesn't look anything like its former self. It's time to start a new conservative party in America."



It most certainly does not look like a party willing to strengthen the middle class as it has let the rabid teabagging extremists lead it over the cliff!

Sorry, but the neoliberal republican party only wants to worship at the feet of the wealthy and corporate America -- just a fascist corporatism by the cheap labor conservatives, intent on offshoring all livable wage jobs and reducing wages to third world levels!

[occupy_cbs]

Ron Paul most "unacceptable" candidate, Iowa Republicans say in new poll



Nah....ALL of the GOP clowns in the republican 3-ring circus are unacceptable, which is exactly why "UNDECIDED" is Iowan's top choice!


Leading candidate by far in Iowa? Undecided!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7393386n&tag=stack

[debekniss]

If your only listening to corporate media and the bought republicans and of course obama groupies then you will hear this lie. If you understand what Obama has done to betray all americans with the help of his bought politicans with the NDAA bill the only person running 2012 who can help America is Ron Paul. He can bring back our Bill of Rights, cut the budget by a trillion, Stop the wars including the stupid one on drugs, Bring our troops home to protect our Country, stop sending money to other countries, Really look at the FED and do something about it, Bring our currancy back to its worth, Bring back programs to a state level and end corporate influances. Drastic yes but needed NOW. American Dreams are not a urban legend. With Ron Paul platform out there the smear campaigns are there to distract from that well thought out plan. No other person has it spelled out so clearly and is so logical. Of course the ones who have been bought are against a man who does not accept corporate donations, refused his congressional perk package and has said if President he would take 39 grand instead of 400 grand! And in thinking what would really bring his campaign above the rest if history of walking his talk and warning us in advance is not enough would be if he was so bold to ask Hillary Clinton to be his running mate for the following reasons. One she is aware of who and what Obama is about. She has the skills to actually do things to help move the federal programs to a State level and work it as smooth as possible. She would make history as a Female Vice President and would draw a lot of Dem votes to the Paul campaign. As many already know the days of voting strickly party are gone the line is to blurry. But together those two could really clean house and restore America again. She knows all the players as well as Paul and she has fans is a dedicated american who wants what is best for our country. Also it will really **** off Obama too :) So unacceptable or unelectable is spouted by those who don't use logic in their life and have done no research on the peopole running for office. Ron Paul is Americans last chance now and I will vote him in as a write in if I must as most Paul supporters will if the Republican party does not open its eyes and see what a great man they have and stop ignoring his brave efforts to stand alone to make his platform real and workable.. Ron Paul in 2012

[stopoil]

All you people who say Ron Paul does not a foreign policy you are wrong. It is called "Russian" Roulette.