Romney leads 2012 Michigan GOP poll

EAST LANSING, Mich., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Mitt Romney, son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, is the favorite of state Republican voters, a poll indicates.

The state party is holding a convention in Grand Rapids this weekend, but departing Chairman Ron Weiser told The Detroit News it is not expected to discuss the presidential race.

The poll by Mitchell Research & Communications found Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, backed by 28 percent for president, followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 15 percent.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had 10 percent apiece, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and South Dakota Sen. John Thune were in single digits. Twenty-two percent were undecided.

Romney defeated Arizona Sen. John McCain in Michigan's primary in 2008.

The telephone poll of 600 likely voters, 251 of them Republicans, was conducted Dec. 30 and Jan. 2-4 with a margin of error of 6 percentage points.