Poll Watch: Pew Research 2012 Republican Nomination Survey

Pew Research 2012 GOP Nomination Poll

• Mitt Romney 31% {27%} [21%] (23%) {22%} [21%] (21%)
• Newt Gingrich 16% {16%} [33%] (16%) {8%} [3%] (11%)
• Ron Paul 15% {12%} [8%] (8%) {12%} [9%] (8%)
• Rick Santorum 14% {16%} [3%] (2%) {2%} [1%] (2%)  
• Rick Perry 5% {6%} [4%] (8%) {17%} [12%]

Regardless of who you may support for the Republican nomination in 2012, who do you think would do the best job of:

Reducing the federal budget deficit

• Mitt Romney 29%
• Newt Gingrich 20%
• Ron Paul 19%
• Rick Santorum 7%
• Rick Perry 5%

Improving job opportunities for Americans

• Mitt Romney 33%
• Ron Paul 14%
• Newt Gingrich 12%
• Rick Santorum 9%
• Rick Perry 9%

Dealing with immigration

• Newt Gingrich 18%
• Mitt Romney 17%
• Ron Paul 14%
• Rick Perry 14%
• Rick Santorum 8%

Reflecting your views on social issues like abortion

• Rick Santorum 20%
• Mitt Romney 18%
• Ron Paul 14%
• Newt Gingrich 12%
• Rick Perry 6%

Which Republican candidate do you trust most to handle America’s foreign policy?

• Newt Gingrich 33%
• Mitt Romney 25%
• Ron Paul 10%
• Rick Santorum 8%
• Rick Perry 4%

Are there any Republican candidates who you do not trust to handle America’s foreign policy?

• Ron Paul 32%
• Newt Gingrich 10%
• Rick Perry 7%
• Rick Santorum 4%
• Mitt Romney 4%

Apart from who you would like to see nominated, which Republican candidate do you think has the best chance of defeating Barack Obama next November?

• Mitt Romney 58%
• Newt Gingrich 11%
• Ron Paul 5%
• Rick Santorum 4%
• Rick Perry 3%

Survey of 527 registered Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents was conducted January 11-16, 2012.  The margin of error is +/- 5.5 percentage points.  Results from the poll conducted January 4-8, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted December 7-11, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted November 9-14, 2011 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted September 22 - October 4, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 20-24, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted March 8-14, 2011 are in parentheses.