A two-man GOP presidential race? (Perry v Romney)

LA Times ^ | August 28, 2011 | Doyle McManus

[AAABEST]

Until a few weeks ago, the race for the Republican presidential nomination seemed wide open. There was a presumptive front-runner, Mitt Romney, but he held first place mostly because he was a familiar face; his support among Republican voters appeared broad but not deep.

Many conservatives at the party's core weren't happy with Romney, and a line of would-be champions has auditioned for their support, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann. But none of them succeeded in knocking Romney off his perch.

Until now. Only two weeks after entering the race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has abruptly leapt to the top of nationwide polls.

First, the polls. Last week the Gallup Poll showed Perry leading the field with support from 29% of Republican voters, with Romney at 17% and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 13%. (Other surveys came up with similar results.) Perry's 29% was a stronger showing than Romney had enjoyed in most polls all year.

Though Perry is running strongest among conservatives, who make up a big majority of the GOP electorate, he has attracted a wider range of Republicans as well: high income and low income, college educated and blue collar, Northern and Southern. Some of Perry's support came from former Bachmann voters, but much of it came from voters who once preferred Romney — an ominous finding for the former front-runner, who still has a slight edge among moderates in the party.

[danielmryan]

I would just LOVE to see Palin as Sec of Energy in a Perry administration.

Not unlike Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. I know everyone's consumed by the Republican primary, but there's a real chance that Hillary will primary Obama. Should Gov. Perry win the Republican nomination and the Presidency, and turn out to be the RINO that some have him pegged as, Sarah Palin would be in a good position to primary him in '16. She'd still be young enough to become President.

Also, she'd gain valuable experience in the Executive Branch - and she'd notch up a real-time record of accomplishment at the federal level that would be a lot harder to bury under invective. The American public would see how she really administrates. A track record in D.C. in a necessarily high-profile Cabinet slot would make it a lot harder to hate her away.

[Renata Maree]

I've seen scores from Gallup's Positive Intensity Polls, Herman Cain is consistently at the top. He also does very well in straw polls. He won the South Carolina debate. Anytime he accomplishes anything, it is overlooked or downplayed by all media.

If Mr. Cain were being covered adequately by the media, his name recognition would be exceedingly above 50%, which it is not.

[thackney]

Herman Cain seems to believe the right things for conservatives. If he can build the political team required to win and subsequently lead in the political arena remains to be seen.

I know people are quick to point out current polls. But in the political world, the time from now to the primary elections is immense.

At this point in 2007, Giuliani had a strong lead but Thompson was gaining fast. McCain had been steadily losing polling points for 3 months by now in a distant 3rd place.