Two new national polls of the Republican primary race show very different results in the horserace, but do agree on one thing: Newt Gingrich is rocketing upwards.
The new CNN poll, among Republican respondents: Romney 24%, Gingrich 22%, Cain 14%, Perry 12%, Paul 8%, Bachmann 6%, Huntsman 3%, and Santorum 3%. In CNN’s previous poll from a month ago, Romney had 26%, Cain 25%, Perry 13%, and all others in single digits (including Gingrich at 8%).
And the new numbers from Public Policy Polling (D): Gingrich 28%, Cain 25%, Romney 18%, Perry 6%, Bachmann 5%, Paul 5%, Huntsman 3%, Santorum 1%, and Johnson 1%.
In the previous PPP survey from a month ago, Cain led with 30%, followed by Romney at 22%, Gingrich at 15%, Perry at 14%, and all others in single digits.
The two polls also show Newt Gingrich currently having the best favorable ratings among Republican voters.
In the CNN pol, Gingrich’s favorable ratings among GOPers is 61%, to only 21% unfavorable. This is followed by Romney at 55%-27%, Cain at 47%-31%, Perry at 43%-37%, Bachmann at 41%-33%, Santorum at 30%-22%, and Huntsman at 19%-22%.
And in the PPP numbers, Gingrich’s numbers are 68%-23%, compared to 57%-31% for Cain, 48%-39% for Romney, followed by Bachmann at 40%-41%, Perry at 35%-49%, and Paul at 31%-52%.
The polls also explored the ongoing story surrounding the accusations that have been made against Herman Cain, involving alleged past sexual harassment.
For CNN’s sample of all American adults — not just Republicans — they also asked: “Who do you tend to believe — the women who have made these charges, or Herman Cain?” The answer 50% for the women, to only 33% for Cain — but among the Republican sub-sample only, the answer was the other way around at Cain 53%, the women 28%.
Similarly, CNN also asked all respondents: “Do you generally think the news media have behaved responsibly or irresponsibly in their coverage of the charges against Herman Cain?” The answer was a 48%-48% tie int he wider pool, but among Republicans it stood at only 36% saying the media have behaved responsibly, to 62% saying they have behaved responsibly.
PPP also asked their Republican respondents a variety of questions about the accusations. The results were very positive for Cain:
Q8. Do you think allegations of sexual harassment against Herman Cain that came out this week are mostly true or false?
Mostly true - 24%
Mostly false.54%
Not sure - 22%
Q9. Is your opinion of Herman Cain now more positive, more negative, or unchanged from what it was before these allegations came out?
More positive 9%
More negative - 26%
Unchanged - 63%
Not sure. 2%
Q10. Do you think that the media’s treatment of Herman Cain this week has been mostly fair or unfair?
Mostly fair - 26%
Mostly unfair - 61%
Not sure - 13%
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
John Tell It seems like many of these candidates know they don't have a chance, as did Palin, but are running to "sell something".I believe they see book deals in the future, enhanced speaking fees, general recognition, chance to be appointed to a seat on an administration, or to be elected or reelected for a seat in congress. Corporate boards and lobbyist jobs can also be in the mix. Anyhow, it takes an ego to run for POTUS. It takes any ego to run for any office. To do so really means one has something to offer, just anything. Most of us are average and have average competency in something. Oh, we may be doctors or lawyers but we still are average and maybe more average than others. But to determine that you can create policies that are good for the balance of the people and just "want to serve" to make lives better is sheer hubris. It is not however if one wants to get to powerful offices to better one's own life and "heck" with the others which is what seems to be the goal of most of our congressional leaders. It is a good gig to basically make more money as well.
Interesting. The same number Republicans who think Obama was born in Kenya think Cain is being framed by the liberal media.
pitsmcgoo Huh. Maybe they aren't really racist, just stupid?
Raise your hand if you think that a thrice married, twice divorced, Catholic philanderer, who converted away from the Southern Baptist Church, and is the only Speaker of the House to be sanctioned ($300,000) who led the impeachment of Clinton (for what?) at the same time that he was having an affair with Calista, and shut down the government has a chance in hell. Well, he doesn't. And not just for the obvious reasons. Nor even because he worked with Al Sharpton and Hillary Clinton. It's because every time he opens his mouth, you just want to say, "Geez! This guy is a d*ck!"
Newt's going to be the next serial imploder in the large roster of losers. Huntsman seems like a respectable candidate but doesn't have the leading-man recognition to get the nomination, in my opinion, or Buddy Roemer either. The only nationally prominent Republican who could jump into the race now with a chance of winning the nomination is Senator Mitch McConnell, I think.
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