Poll: 49% say Romney has presidential cred

WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- About half of likely voters consider former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney the only Republican hopeful qualified to be president, Rasmussen Reports said Monday.

While 49 percent of likely voters said they thought Romney was qualified, 23 percent said former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who hasn't tipped her hand, is qualified to serve as president and 63 percent said she was not qualified.

Concerning Romney, 25 percent told Rasmussen Reports he was not qualified, and another 25 percent said they weren't sure.

Twenty-seven percent of likely voters rated both former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul as qualified to be in the White House, Rasmussen Reports said. Thirty-two percent said Pawlenty wasn't qualified and 42 percent were undecided. Results indicate 43 percent said they thought Paul wasn't qualified and 31 percent said they weren't sure.

Twenty-six percent said they thought former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has the qualifications to be president, but nearly 48 said the opposite and 26 percent weren't sure, Rasmussen Reports said.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,000 likely U.S. voters conducted Thursday and Friday. The margin of error is percentage points.