Poll Watch: CBS News/New York Times 2012 Republican Nomination Survey

CBS News/New York Times 2012 GOP Nomination Poll

• Rick Santorum 30% {16%} (14%) [3%] {2%} (1%) [3%] {1%} 
• Mitt Romney 27% {28%} (19%) [20%] {15%} (21%) [17%] {16%} 
• Ron Paul 12% {15%} (10%) [10%] {5%} (8%) [7%] {5%}
• Newt Gingrich 10% {21%} (15%) [20%] {15%} (10%) [8%] {7%} 

Among Conservatives

• Rick Santorum 38% {24%}
• Mitt Romney 24% {25%}
• Newt Gingrich 12% {25%}
• Ron Paul 5% {10%}

Mind Made Up Whom to Support?

• Yes 39%
• Too early 60%

Second Choice

• Newt Gingrich 28% 
• Rick Santorum 27% 
• Mitt Romney 23%
• Ron Paul 10%

Are you generally satisfied with the candidates now running nomination for President, or do you wish there were more choices?

• Generally satisfied 34%
• Wish there were more choices 62%

Regardless of how you intend to vote in 2012, which one of these candidates do you think has the best chance of beating Barack Obama in the general election in November 2012?

• Mitt Romney 55%
• Newt Gingrich 15%
• Rick Santorum 14%
• Ron Paul 3%

If he were elected president, do you think Ron Paul's policies would be very different from President Obama's policies, somewhat different, or not very different from President Obama's policies?

• Very different 61%
• Somewhat different 27%
• Not very different 4%

If he were elected president, do you think Rick Santorum's policies would be very different from President Obama's policies, somewhat different, or not very different from President Obama's policies?

• Very different 59%
• Somewhat different 30%
• Not very different 4%

If he were elected president, do you think Newt Gingrich's policies would be very different from President Obama's policies, somewhat different, or not very different from President Obama's policies?

• Very different 55%
• Somewhat different 26%
• Not very different 14%

If he were elected president, do you think Mitt Romney's policies would be very different from President Obama's policies, somewhat different, or not very different from President Obama's policies?

• Very different 36%
• Somewhat different 48%
• Not very different 14%

Do you think Rick Santorum's views on most issues are too conservative for you, not conservative enough, or just about right?

• Too conservative 12%
• Not conservative enough 5%
• Just about right 67%

Do you think Newt Gingrich's views on most issues are too conservative for you, not conservative enough, or just about right?

• Too conservative 12%
• Not conservative enough 25%
• Just about right 54%

Do you think Ron Paul's views on most issues are too conservative for you, not conservative enough, or just about right?

• Too conservative 13%
• Not conservative enough 19%
• Just about right 49%

Do you think Mitt Romney's views on most issues are too conservative for you, not conservative enough, or just about right?

• Too conservative 8%
• Not conservative enough 30%
• Just about right 52%

Do you think Rick Santorum does or does not understand the needs and problems of people like yourself?

• Does 64%
• Does not 16%

Do you think Newt Gingrich does or does not understand the needs and problems of people like yourself?

• Does 61%
• Does not 28%

Do you think Ron Paul does or does not understand the needs and problems of people like yourself?

• Does 58%
• Does not 25%

Do you think Mitt Romney does or does not understand the needs and problems of people like yourself?

• Does 56%
• Does not 36%

How confident are you in Mitt Romney's ability to make the right decisions about the economy?

• Very confident 26%
• Somewhat confident 47%
• Not too confident 15%
• Not at all confident 8%

How confident are you in Newt Gingrich's ability to make the right decisions about the economy?

• Very confident 24%
  
• Somewhat confident 44%
  
• Not too confident 13%
• Not at all confident 15%

How confident are you in Rick Santorum's ability to make the right decisions about the economy?

• Very confident 26%
• Somewhat confident 41%
• Not too confident 14%
• Not at all confident 8%

How confident are you in Ron Paul's ability to make the right decisions about the economy?

• Very confident 18%
• Somewhat confident 41%
• Not too confident 21%
• Not at all confident 11%

Survey of 331 likely Republican primary voters was conducted February 8-13, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 12-17, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted January 4-8, 2012 are in parentheses.  Results from the poll conducted December 14-18, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted November 6-10, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted October 19-24, 2011 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted September 28 - October 2, 2011 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 10-15, 2011 are in curly brackets.

Inside the numbers:

Santorum also leads the Republican field among tea party supporters, who make up more than four in 10 Republican primary voters, as well as evangelical Christians.

In January's national poll, tea party supporters divided their support between Romney (with 29 percent) and Gingrich (28 percent), while Santorum trailed with just 18 percent. In that same poll, 23 percent of white evangelicals backed Santorum. That support has now jumped to 39 percent.

Still, 60 percent of Republican primary voters nationwide say they could still change their minds about whom to support - so the race remains fluid.