Gallup: Romney and Santorum would split Gingrich votes

CBS

(CBS News) Despite conventional wisdom that says Newt Gingrich is siphoning conservative votes from Rick Santorum, a new poll by Gallup finds that both Santorum and Mitt Romney would split Gingrich supporters if the former House speaker dropped out of the race.

The Gallup poll released on Friday shows that 40 percent of Gingrich supporters said Romney was their second choice, compared to 39 percent who said Rick Santorum was their Gingrich alternative. The question has a 7 percent margin of error. 

This poll refutes the repeated calls by Santorum supporters' that Newt Gingrich is filling the role of a spoiler and his determination to stay in the race is helping the former Massachusetts governor win the nomination.

In addition to polling Gingrich backers, Gallup reallocated votes based on their polling numbers with Gingrich out of the race and found that the outcome changes little. Romney would get 40 percent of the vote and Santorum would receive 33 percent, with a 3 percent margin of error. Gallup says that seven-point lead is similar to the lead Romney has among voters based on Gallup's recent polls, which shows Romney has 34 percent to Santorum's 28 percent.

After the nominating contests on Super Tuesday more than one week ago, calls for Newt Gingrich to drop out have increased. Santorum's super PAC adviser Stuart Roy said "it is time for Newt Gingrich to exit the Republican nominating process." And John Brabender, Santorum's chief strategist told reporters, "If conservatives and tea party supporters unite behind Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney will not be the nominee."

Gallup interviewed 1,947 Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters polled between March 8 - 15.

[AntiGovtRebel]

My theory as to why Leigh Ann Caldwell completely omitted candidate Ron Paul from the story and the picture, is that Mr. Paul is the only candidate that challenges the status quo.

Your response Ms. Caldwell?

[AntiGovtRebel]

Are there not four candidates? Where is the missing One?

[officerjoe]

You left someone out Leigh Ann. Romney gets 40%, Santorum gets 39% that only adds up to 79%. So where does the other 21% GO? Is there another candidate in this race? Hmmm, lets see?WHO COULD IT BE? Sorry, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with the bosses at CBS They've already given him 89 seconds.

[AntiGovtRebel]

The deliberate Ron Paul blackout is pathetic. No wonder mainstream news sources are in decline.

[fredisalive]

I would rather have Rick or Newt, this Mitt character has been on both sides of every issue and will say just about anything to get votes!

[bantamei]

The next time you hear a republicant say he respects the constitution call him a bald faced liar to his face.

[roblearns]

One thing is certain, if Newt quits, he won't be the nominee.

What's so terribly wrong about letting the voters decide.

as far as I'm concerned, let Newt run as long as he wants, all the way to the convention.