Poll Watch: NBC News/Marist Michigan 2012 Republican Primary Survey

NBC News/Marist Michigan 2012 GOP Primary Poll

• Mitt Romney 37%
• Rick Santorum 35%
  
• Ron Paul 13%
• Newt Gingrich 8%

Second Choice

• Rick Santorum 25%
• Newt Gingrich 24%
• Mitt Romney 22%
• Ron Paul 17%

Without Gingrich

• Mitt Romney 41%
• Rick Santorum 39%
  
• Ron Paul 14%

Please tell me if you would find each of the following candidates acceptable, acceptable but with reservations, or not acceptable as the Republican nominee for president?

Rick Santorum

• Acceptable 54%
  
• Acceptable but with reservations 27%
  
• Not acceptable 14%

Mitt Romney

• Acceptable 53%
• Acceptable but with reservations 30%
• Not acceptable 15%

Newt Gingrich

• Acceptable 29%
  
• Acceptable but with reservations 30%
  
• Not acceptable 38%

Ron Paul

• Acceptable 28%
  
• Acceptable but with reservations 26%
  
• Not acceptable 42%

Are you currently satisfied with the Republican candidates who are running for president or would you like to see someone else run?

• Satisfied with current candidates 55%
• Would like to see someone else run 41%

Which one of the following candidates do you think has the best chance to beat President Obama?

• Mitt Romney 51%
• Rick Santorum 24%
• Newt Gingrich 8%
• Ron Paul 4%

Regardless of whom you support, who do you think will be the Republican nominee to run against President Obama?

• Mitt Romney 59%
  
• Rick Santorum 21%
  
• Newt Gingrich 4%
  
• Ron Paul 3%

Overall, do you think the bailout of the auto industry was a good idea or a bad idea?

• Good idea 42%
• Bad idea 50%

Mitt Romney was born in Detroit and grew up in Michigan; does that make you more likely or less likely to support him for president, or does this not affect your vote either way?

• More likely 10%
• Less likely 2%
• Does not affect vote 88%

Do you consider a Mormon to be a Christian or not?

• Yes 56%
• No 44%

Among Evangelical Christians

• Yes 37%
• No 63%

Survey of 715 likely Republican primary voters was conducted February 19-20, 2012.  The margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points.