Poll: Romney has lead in N.H. GOP primary

MANCHESTER, N.H., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holds the early lead in the 2012 New Hampshire Republican primary, a WMUR Granite State Poll indicates.

Results indicate Romney is well ahead of other possible candidates, even though a huge majority of likely voters said they haven't made up their minds, WMUR-TV, Manchester, N.H., reported.

The New Hampshire Republican primary is tentatively scheduled for Feb.14, 2012,

The poll indicated 40 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they would vote for Romney, 10 percent said they would favor former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 7 percent former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and 7 percent former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Rounding out potential vote-getters are former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, each favored by 6 percent of likely GOP voters. U.S. Rep. and 2008 primary hopeful Ron Paul of Texas, had 5 percent; business mogul Donald Trump, 3 percent; and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, 1 percent each.

Pollsters said 78 percent of likely Republican primary voters indicated they were trying to decide who to vote for, with only 7 percent said they had definitely decided.

While no potential Democratic challenger for President Barack Obama has emerged, 65 percent of likely Democratic primary voters said they plan to vote for Obama, and 27 percent said they are undecided, WMUR reported.

Results are based on surveys of 757 New Hampshire adults Jan. 28-Feb. 7. The margin of error for the overall poll is 3.5 percentage points.