Poll: Hunstman In Third Place In NH

Jon Hunstman has thus far gained little traction among Republican voters since entering the 2012 race, but a new poll shows the Former Utah Governor holding third place in New Hampshire.

The poll, conducted by Suffolk University and Manchester television station WHDH, shows Mitt Romney leading the field with 38 percent, followed by Gingrich with 20 percent. Huntsman holds 13 percent, a development that his campaign referred to as a surge.

“This poll confirms that Governor Huntsman’s message of restoring trust in Washington, ending bailouts for too-big-to-fail Wall Street banks, and eliminating crony capitalism is resonating with voters who are fed up with politics-as-usual in Washington,” Matt David, Huntsman’s campaign manager, said in a statement sent out to supporters.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who came in fourth with 8 percent, previously held the third place spot.

According to David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, Huntsman’s uptick can be attributed to his campaign’s focus on independent voters.

“Huntsman has traction among independents, who could dominate the Republican Primary if mobilized,” Paleologos said in a statement.

The poll was conducted December 10^th through the 13^th among 400 likely primary voters.