Perry debuts with the lead in Georgia GOP poll

Compiled from InsiderAdvantage and Southern Political Report staff

August 19, 2011 —

exas Gov. Rick Perry leads the field of Republican presidential candidates in Georgia, including a whopping 4-1 leader over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, according to the latest poll by InsiderAdvantage. Here are the results of the survey:

Q: If the Georgia Republican presidential preference primary were held today, who would you votes for?

Rick Perry: 24 percent
Herman Cain: 15 percent
Newt Gingrich: 9 percent
Michelle Bachmann: 8 percent
Sarah Palin: 8 percent
Mitti Romney: 6 percent
Ron Paul: 5 percent
Jon Huntsman: 1 percent
Other: 4 percent
No opinion/Undecided: 20 percent

The poll was conducted Aug. 18 among 425 likely voters in the 2012 Georgia Republican presidential preference primary, for a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. The data have been weighted for age, race, gender and political affiliation.

It may be a measure of uneasiness with the GOP presidential field among Republican voters that Rick Perry has bolted to a lead less than a week after announcing his candidacy, and before many Georgia voters are familiar with him.

One result of that unfamiliarity with Perry is that even though he is considered an unabashed and aggressive conservative, he fares well with self-identified independent voters in our poll. His 18-point lead over previouis frontrunner Mitt Romney is an eye-opener. Herman Cain also did well among indepedents.

Newt Gingrich's modest showing in his home state likely can be attributed to his so-far inability or unwillingness to stress his record as a former US. speaker of the House from Georgia, says Matt Towery, CEO of InsiderAdvantage. Towery said Gingrich is also hurt by the fact that he has taken another vacation during the early presidential campaign, this one to Hawaii. "People take this as a sign that Newt is not serious about his candidacy," said Towery.

Sarah Palin is not an announced candidate, but she is showing signs that she may soon be.

Source: http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/ ... _2106.aspx