Many Republicans may wish they could choose from a different set of presidential candidates. But given that they can’t, a majority wants one of the current foursome to emerge victorious, rather than a brokered convention that would chose an alternative nominee, according to a new
Gallup/USA Today poll.
By a margin of 66 to 29 percent, Republicans and Republican-leaning voters said it would be best if one of the four GOP candidates running for president secured the nomination rather than having a brokered convention, the nationwide USA Today/Gallup poll found.
According to USA Today, the poll also found that 55 percent of Republicans said that they wish someone else were running, while 44 percent are satisfied with the choice of candidates.
Respondents apparently aren’t upset by the intense nature of the campaign so far: 57 percent say it isn’t hurting the party.
The poll of 481 Republican and GOP-leaning independents, taken Thursday through Sunday, found that former Sen. Rick Santorum leads former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 50 to 44 percent nationwide in a head-to-head contest.
In a poll with all candidates listed, Santorum led Romney, 36 to 26 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is at 13 percent and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is at 11 percent.
Among all registered voters, Romney and Santorum are improving their position against President Barack Obama. Romney leads the president, 50 percent to 46 percent, the Republican’s strongest tally to date. Obama leads Santorum only 49 percent to 48 percent.
The poll’s margin of error for all voters is 4 percentage points, so Obama is essentially tied with both Romney and Santorum.
Republicans see Romney with a better chance than Santorum of beating Obama in November – by a 58 percent to 32 percent margin.
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