Polls find low-income Republicans prefer Palin

Sarah Palin is the leading presidential candidate among low-income Republicans, according to Gallup polling data, while Mitt Romney tends to attract more support as voters move up the income ladder.

Gallup analyzed its recent polling data and found that Palin is the preferred candidate of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents making less than $24,000 per year. Mike Huckabee is the only other candidate to poll in double digits among the group, at 16 percent.

Support for Palin drops as income level increases: 16 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaners making $24,000-$59,000 support her; 11 percent of those in this group making $60,000-$89,999 support her; and just 7 percent of those in this group making $90,000 or more support her.

The trend is reverse for Romney: While just 9 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaners making under $24,000 back him, that figure rises to 14 percent among those making $24,000-$59,000 and to 19 percent among those making $60,000-$89,999. Romney has the most support of any candidate among Republicans and Republican-leaners making $90,000 or more - 21 percent.

Romney is also the most popular candidate among college graduate Republicans and Republican-leaners, while Palin is the most popular among those in this group who have not finished college.

Support for Huckabee, another leading potential GOP presidential candidate, remains relatively stable regardless of income level. He has the backing of both 16 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaners making less than $24,000 and 19 percent of those making $90,000 or more. Newt Gingrich, whose plans to formally announce his presidential campaign this week, also has relatively stable high-single digit support accross income groups.

Gallup also broke down its polling by region, gender and age. Huckabee polls relatively strongly in the South and Midwest, while Romney fares well in the East and West. Palin does slightly better with women than men, while Gingrich does slightly better with men than women. Support for Romney is highest among older Americans, while support for Ron Paul is highest among younger voters.