Romney Leads in NH Poll

With Texas Governor Rick Perry in the race, it appears that a race is brewing nationally. In New Hampshire, Mitt Romney seems to be benefiting from geography. The former Governor of Massachusetts has been right next door to the Granite State.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann appears not to be gaining in the state that welcomed Sarah Plain-endorsed Kelly Ayotte to the Senate last year. These are all coming from a new Magellan Strategies poll.

Romney: 38%
Perry: 18%
Paul: 14
Bachmann: 10%
Huntsman: 3%
Cain: 3%
Gingrich: 2%

Some interesting other results are favorability ratings:

Among all voters surveyed Romney remains very popular with a favorable rating of 66% and an unfavorable rating of 24%. Perry also has a significantly favorable image ratio of 51% F / 27% U.

Other candidates though are seeing their negative image ratings rise. Bachmann is still more popular than not with a 49% favorable rating. But 39% say they have an unfavorable opinion of her. Meanwhile, former Obama administration official Jon Huntsman (20% F / 47% U), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (29% F / 60% U), Texas Rep. Ron Paul (39% F / 47% U) and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (30% F / 42% U) each have more respondents who say they don’t like them than do. Herm Cain breaks about even with a 36% favorable rating versus 34% unfavorable.

The case of Bachmann is especially interesting. She remains very popular among self-identified conservatives with a 62% Favorable rating and a 28% Unfavorable rating. But it is a completely different story among Independents, 51% of who view her Unfavorably, while only 40% view her Favorably. The split in the voting public’s view of Bachmann demonstrates the uniquely complex texture of the New Hampshire electorate

It's gearing up to be a race.

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