Poll: Cain Leads In Trio Of States
2012 hopeful Herman Cain appears to be leading the GOP field in North Carolina, Nebraska and West Virginia, according to Public Policy Polling (PPP).
According to a survey of Republican or likely Republican voters, the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO leads with 27 percent in North Carolina, 30 percent in Nebraska and 24 percent in West Virginia.
PPP reports that the bulk of Cain’s support comes from those further to the right. Among conservatives who identified themselves as “very conservative,” he charts at 35 percent in North Carolina, 36 percent in Nebraska and 25 percent in West Virginia.
In a national Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday, Cain shares second place with Texas Governor Rick Perry, coming in at 16 percent. While Romney leads the field with 25 percent, Cain’s ascension to second place represents a meteoric rise. Earlier in the month Cain came in with just 4 percent support.
The poll also shows that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is surging in some states. Gingrich and Romney tie for second place in North Carolina with 17 percent support and Gingrich comes in second in Nebraska and West Virginia with 16 percent and 18 percent respectively.
Poll: Perry Falls, Cain Rises
Rick Perry’s support among Republicans has dwindled, according to a new Washington Post/ABC poll.
The Texas Governor now charts at 16 percent, a sharp 13 point decrease from the previous month.
Perry’s fall can likely be attributed to his poor performance in the last Republican debate, wherein he fumbled his anti-Romney rhetoric and suggested that those who criticized his state’s plan to help illegal immigrants attend college lacked compassion.
While Perry has taken a hit, former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain, long considered a second-tier candidate, has continued to gain momentum. The new poll shows an impressive 12 point jump from the previous month, from 4 to 16 percent.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has maintained steady support, coming in with 25 percent in the previous two polls.
Although the first primary is just months away, the GOP filed has not completely settled. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin have both been rumored to be considering runs. In the latest survey, 42 percent of respondents said that they would like to see Christie run and 31 percent said that they would like to see Palin enter the race. However, 66 percent of respondents also said that they would not like to see Palin run, while 34 percent said Christie should not make a bid.
The poll was conducted among 397 Republican and GOP leaning independents between Sept. 29th and Oct. 2.