Mitt Romney slightly ahead of potential 2012 GOP presidential candidates: Poll

Washington, Jan 25 (ANI): Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is slightly ahead of his potential Republican 2012 presidential contenders, according to a new poll.

Politico quoted the Rasmussen survey as saying that Romney enjoys 24 percent support of American voters closely followed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin with 19 percent, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee with 17 percent support.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich trails the front-runners with 11 percent of likely Republican voters backing him, the poll said.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has managed to earn 6 percent support, while Texas Representative Ron Paul got 4 percent.

Earlier, Romney was also placed first in a straw poll of New Hampshire Republican Party officials. He had won with 35 percent of the total vote, beating second-place finisher Ron Paul, R-Texas, by 24 points. (ANI)