Majority chooses Romney as strongest GOP candidate

Rochester Business Journal

December 30, 2011

Most respondents to this week?s RBJ Daily Report Snap Poll say former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney would be the strongest Republican presidential candidate in 2012.

When readers?regardless of their political affiliation?were asked to name the strongest candidate in the field of declared GOP hopefuls, 52 percent selected Romney. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah was named by 16 percent; 15 percent picked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.

After months of political campaigning and debates, the first electoral contest in the 2012 presidential race?the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses?is only days away. It will be followed a week later by the New Hampshire primary.

When the same poll question was posed in September, 35 percent of respondents said Texas Gov. Rick Perry would be the strongest Republican candidate. Romney was selected by 28 percent of participants in that poll.

In the first RBJ poll on the 2012 contest, conducted in November 2010, the plurality?21 percent?said Romney would be the strongest Republican presidential candidate.

Some 520 readers participated in this week?s poll, which was conducted Dec. 27.

In your opinion, who among those now seeking the Republican nomination would be the strongest GOP presidential candidate in 2012?
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: 52%
Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah: 16%
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia: 15%
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas: 10%
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas: 3%
Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania: 2%
Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota: 2%

COMMENTS:

He?s short, ugly and slurs his words, but he gets things done. It?s not the hairdo that matters but what is under it. I root for Newt, but only in small four-year doses.
?Ian Cunningham

Mitt Romney has the experience in leadership that the current occupant of the White House lacks.
?Robert W. Zinnecker, Penfield

(New Jersey Gov.) Chris Christie would be a welcome VP candidate to any of the above.
?Tony Schmitt, self-employed

Please give Ron Paul a chance. He is not the best-looking among the group; however, his decades of service in the House, his work as a medical doctor and his time in the service should qualify him to at least be looked into. His answers don?t change per every public opinion poll; he has ideas that may seem radical to some but, given the times that we are in, are the right thing to do.
?Will Phillips

Only Ron Paul has the new ideas and civil rights credentials to pose a threat to a second Obama term. Fortunately for the nation, his permissive stance on social issues means he won?t get that chance; he can?t possibly win the Republican nomination.
?Matthew D. Wilson

I think Gingrich would make the better president (than Romney) but has too much baggage to be elected. The GOP needs a candidate who can defeat Obama.
?Ken Ross

I read one columnist who joked that Huntsman is the Democrat?s choice. It?s a shame Huntsman didn?t have a stronger presence in the primary campaign. He has an excellent resume, and his opinions appeared to be more moderate and reasonable.
?Michael Shacket

I?m a Democrat and support the president. But I believe Jon Huntsman is the only Republican who will have a chance to beat the president.
?Craig Epperson

I think Sarah Palin may be the only Republican who can win! That?s a rather sad state of affairs!
?Hutch Hutchison, In T?Hutch Ltd.

Mitt Romney, my same opinion as in the previous Snap Poll. However, after the destructive years with the Republican Party, anything but a Republican will do.
?Ingo H. Leubner, Crystallization Consulting

Anybody in the White House but Obama come 2013.
?Jim Duke, Victor

(Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah): Closest thing we have to a libertarian?but he may actually be electable.
?Devon Michaels, Chili

12/30/11 (c) 2011 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or e-mail service@rbj.net.

Source: http://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=189885

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