Bachmann Surges to Second Place in new GOP Poll

After a strong debate performance Monday night, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has surged in a new poll.  19% of likely GOP primary voters now support Ms. Bachmann.

Her 19% lands Ms. Bachmann in second place.  Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney came in first with 33%, and businessman Herman Cain, who surged in the polls after a successful debate last month, came in third, with 10% of the poll.

After these top candidates, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich picked up 9%, Texas Congressman Ron Paul garnered 7%, ex-Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty received 6%, as well as Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. 8% polled prefer some other candidate

Another interesting aspect to the poll is the favorability Mr. Romney and Ms. Bachmann hold with people who identify themselves as Tea Party members.  According to the report, both candidates garner 26% support from Tea Partiers.

However, amongst Republicans who do not see themselves as Tea Party members, 36% favor Romney and 16% favor Bachmann.  55% polled stated that they saw Ms. Bachmann as "very conservative."  Only 11% see Mr. Romney as very conservative.

Bachmann

More from the report:

There is little difference of opinion among male and female GOP primary voters, although women give Romney slightly more support. The gap between Romney and Bachmann is narrowest among middle-aged primary voters.

Romney, Bachmann and Cain earn 31%, 22% and 12% support respectively among primary voters who describe themselves as conservatives. Romney runs strongest among party moderates.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of primary voters describe Bachmann as at least somewhat conservative. That includes 55% who say she is Very Conservative.

By contrast, 61% rate Romney as at least somewhat conservative, but that includes just 11% who say he is Very Conservative. Fifty-seven percent (57%) think Cain is at least somewhat conservative, with 32% who view him as Very Conservative.

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