A new poll released by Clemson University Monday told Mitt Romney and Gov. Nikki Haley what they already knew: they’ve got some ground to cover if they hope to catch Newt Gingrich before South Carolinians go to the polls next month.
Gingrich, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has a wide lead over Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and other contenders for the GOP nomination, according to a Palmetto Poll of 600 voters conducted by Clemson University.
Gingrich was the choice of 38 percent of those polled. Romney was second at 21 percent. Ron Paul was third with 10 percent; Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann were even in fourth place with 5 percent.
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The Palmetto Poll was the second poll in the last two weeks that showed Gingrich with a sizable lead over the former Massachusetts governor. And like the Winthrop Poll that first showed Gingrich’s growing lead, the Palmetto Poll was conducted before Romney picked up the endorsement of Haley.
Romney and Haley campaigned together last week. But given how unsatisfied many South Carolinians say they are with Haley’s performance as governor, it is unclear how much help Haley can offer Romney here.
What is clear: with one month to go before the state’s January 21 primary, Gingrich is still the man to beat.
Gingrich’s staying power among likely GOP voters continues to vex many in the party, who believe the former speaker’s political baggage and penchant for making controversial, divisive statements will make him an easy opponent for President Barack Obama to defeat next year.
That’s not bothering voters in South Carolina, the Palmetto Poll found.
“They’re willing to set aside Gingrich’s past indiscretions,” Clemson political scientist Dave Woodard said. “There aren’t a lot of Gingrich haters out there.”
While the Palmetto Poll was another reminder of Gingrich’s strength here, it also underscored the implosion of the campaign of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
An evangelical, conservative, Southern governor, Perry seemed poised to run away with the nomination. But then Perry opened his mouth.
“If he could just speak,” said Woodard, who has previously worked as a GOP consultant, but who is not working for a candidate this year.
Perry performed poorly in early debates, once forgetting in one long, embarrassing moment which federal agencies he wanted to eliminate. “Oops,” the governor said.
“He’s just going in the wrong direction,” Woodard said.
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