Quinnipiac Poll: Bachmann surges, Pawlenty goes wrong way
The latest 2012 poll shows GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann surging into second place - making her the top contender to perceived GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.
The latest Quinnipiac University national poll shows Romney with support from 25 percent of those polled. Bachmann has support from 14 percent of those polled. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who hasn't announced whether she'll run, is polling at 12 percent. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who hasn't announced his intentions yet, has support of ten percent of those surveyed.
Tim Pawlenty has support from three percent of those polled and is in seventh place among the candidates listed. Pawlenty has recently said that he's not focused on polling data as he makes his case to the voters. But what should be most troubling is that he's been on the campaign trail longer than many of the other candidates and still isn't catching fire.
In fact, Pawlenty's poll numbers didn't move when poll respondents were asked who they would pick if Palin and Perry didn't run.
The most troubling sign: Pawlenty's numbers were higher in Quinnipiac's previous polls than the July survey.
The survey also found that the nation is split on President Obama. 47 percent say they would vote to give Obama another term. 47 percent say they would not. Obama wins the head to head match ups against Bachmann, Romney, Palin and Perry.
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