Romney Still Leads in the NH Journal Survey … Perry Now Second in the Granite State

Romney still top dog in NH … But Perry is in Second.

The former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney still holds a large leads in New Hampshire with 36%, according to the NH Journal Survey, with Texas governor Rick Perry (18%) second, Ron Paul (14%) third and US Rep Michele Bachmann (10%) fourth. Of course Romney is going to fare well in NH, fellow New England state, or at least he better. If he ever fell to second or third place in any Granite state poll, it would be time for him to drop out of the race.

On the ballot Romney remains in a strong position. He leads all candidates with 36% of the vote. However, Perry, making his first appearance in the NH Journal poll, debuts with a strong 18%. Ron Paul continues to impress despite relatively little media attention with 14%. And Bachmann earns 10%. All other candidates were in single digits.

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.

This is a strong showing for Rick Perry in NH.

Full poll can be seen HERE.

As reported at The Hill, Republicans are torn over Perry and Romney as to who would be the better GOP candidate to take on Barack Obama in 2012. This is hardly a bad thing. An honest and public debate to determine who would be the best principled candidate to take on Obama is exactly what is required. Let the GOP candidates hone their skills and present their message and vision to America now, because trust me Obama, his smear minion and the complicit MSM are going to go after the GOP candidate like no one has ever seen in political history. An incumbent President with such miserable poll numbers on the economy and other key political issues will have to attack his opponents, or as Obama refers to them as “his enemies”, because there is no way he can run on his record.