Santorum leads Romney in latest Ohio poll

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney

/ Getty Images

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum still has a small lead over rival Mitt Romney in the latest poll of likely Republican primary voters in Ohio, though the gap between the two men has shrunk since Monday.

Conducted by Quinnipiac University, the poll released Friday found Santorum leads the former Massachusetts governor 35 percent to 31 percent among likely Republican voters, compared to a poll released Monday showing Santorum with 36 percent to Romney's 29 percent.

Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said a third of Ohio Republican voters told pollsters they might change their mind before March 6, when Republicans in ten states choose who they want to take on President Obama in November.

In addition to the Buckeye state, voters in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia head to the polls on "Super Tuesday," as the early March contest has come to be known. Ohio is considered the most important of the states as it will be crucial for the Republican candidate to win Ohio in the general election seven months from now.

All told, about 437 delegates are at stake next week, nearly double the roughly 250 that have been awarded in the entire race to date. A candidate needs to win 1144 of the 2286 available delegates to capture the nomination.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich garnered 17 percent support in the Ohio poll, with Texas Rep. Ron Paul taking about 12 percent.

Santorum leads Romney 34 percent to 28 percent among men and 37 percent to 33 percent among women. Romney leads Santorum 46 percent to 26 percent among self-described moderates, though Santorum is ahead 40 percent to 27 percent among self-described conservatives and 42 percent to 25 percent among those call themselves tea partiers.

The Ohio Quinnipiac telephone poll of 517 likely Republican primary voters was conducted February 29 through March 1 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

[Indypendent]

Leave it to CBS News to comb all of the available images from Getty and use the worst one of Romney they could find.

Pathetic.

[RonWillison]

I have to tell you all that after the manipulation's,and overt attempt's and in most cases successful machinations designed to prevent those that support Ron Paul from having their chosen champion get an equal and fair shot at the Oval Office. One can't help but wonder exactly what all the active duty soldiers that place themselves in harms way are defending.

[RonWillison]

The same could also be said about our non netted up elderly that rely on the press and media for the the data the need to make a reasonable choice in this election cycle. It appears that our press and media forgot or just decided that there is no longer any reason to believe that during election cycles they should just inform the public. As opposed to shape the public will. Once upon a time election rigging was considered and actually treated as a felony.That's The norm I guess these days when the only news coming out of DC that has any merit. Comes from the Internet News sources, and in a lot of cases informs the public to the real depth that corruption has infested our nation sacred law making houses.

[maemiller2]

I have been so angered by the way the media - and the GOP - have treated Ron Paul! It's pathetic that the only way they can keep him from getting elected is to manipulate the news, refuse to report anything that might show that he is the best choice.

Do you know I couldn't find one news program even mentioning the veterans in DC? Our government can send them to war, knowing that so many of them will come home in body bags - but they don't even have the decency to give media coverage of an event that obviously meant a lot to our veterans.

I will not vote for anyone other than Ron Paul. The fact that the GOP and the media so plainly show 'they' don't want the voting public

[packeryman]

How could anyone claiming to be a Republican, vote for Santorum, after he pulled the robo calls deal Don't you guys understand that Obama would love to run against Santorun, that is the reason the unions sent Dem's to vote for Santorum ,same as he did.That makes him a low life in the eyes of most Republicans. He cannot win a national election.He has been tracking down since Michigan. Get it together and vote Romney, lf not then it doesn't appear your elevator runs to the top.

[maemiller2]

I'm not voting for Santorum, but honestly,the elevator isn't running to the top of anyone who votes for Romney, either, in my opinion.

[RonWillison]

I have to tell you all that after the manipulation's,and overt attempt's and in most cases successful machinations designed to prevent those that support Ron Paul from having their chosen champion get an equal and fair shot at the Oval Office. One can't help but wonder exactly what all the active duty soldiers that place themselves in harms way are defending.

[nfission]

As a Democrat I sincerely hope that InSanetorum gets the nomination for GOP candidate to run against Obama. Make my day repubs, elect the lunatic.

[RonWillison]

Sad part is. The Republican's know that the only person wearing the same colour hat they wear that can and in spite of them is Ron Paul. To bad all they have in their stables besides Ron Paul are three Obamalite's. How sad is that. The only ALPHA DOG in the pack turns out to be a 76 year old stallion. And a principled one at that.

[ladyang]

Isn't that the way they all start with santorium in the lead! hahahahahahahahaha Clueless twits!

[Fatesrider]

It's not so much which candidate wins the GOP nomination, but which one will face humiliation in November when Obama wins by a landslide.

Let's face it, after the in-fighting, wealthy elitist attitudes, theocratic doublespeak, talk about trashing of the Constitution and the money that has been wasted on these losers, Obama begins to look great by comparison. The 2012 campaign will come down to knowing that devil you know is better than the devil you don't. And considering these whack-jobs on the GOP side, who the hell knows what they're going to do to us?

[maemiller2]

Well, we do know what Obama wants to do with us. Finish lowering the standard of living and re-distributing the wealth stolen in the three years of his term from the middle class to give to other countries, after he gets his share, of course. If people pay attention, the in-fighting of the GOP candidates is doing a good job of vetting them, showing us what they really are - and so far what I've seen is that Ron Paul is the only one offering us hope for the future, and protection of the rights we like to think we have - not - after our last two presidents gutted them.

[Quivley]

Romney is FOR the Middle Class first and foremost! Romney Does Not push his religion on others but will fight to defend every person's right to practice their own personal faith in their own way. Romney is absolute on the separation of church and state. Romney has the business savvy and economic knowledge to get our economy back on track. Obama OBVIOUSLY doesn't have a clue on what to do to restore log-term American economic health. This is coming from a citizen who has voting in this country since the 50s and has seen the sad consequences of choices made by emotion rather than fact.

[bantamei]

Romney's tax plan would be a boon for the wealthiest and the bottom 20% would see their taxes rise. FOR the middle class?!?!? You are dead wrong, and like most repugs he will do his best to destro the middle class.

[RandallRichard]

Oh, Mitt's for the middle class OK, meaning all those making between $500,000 and 5 million per year, in his definition.

[Quivley]

Romney is by far the Stronger, Wiser, more Sensible and more Electable candidate. This election is Not a joke, and will have serious consequences for ourselves and our children's future. It's time for all who love America and want a better American future to unite in support of Romney.

[RandallRichard]

Not only that he has magic underwear. How can he lose?

[maemiller2]

That is such bull. Romney is a robot pretending to be human. He has no concern whatsoever for the people of the U.S. All he wants is the power and the prestige of being elected president. Take a look at how his tax plan works out for we commoners - and then look at how it works out for him and his wealthy friends. Then come back and tell us how serious the consequences are for our children's future and for us. It's time to unite in support of the best candidate running for this office, and it is not Romney.