If the Republican presidential primary were held today, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would garner the most votes, according to a new Newsmax/Zogby poll.
Christie received 11.4 percent of the votes in the survey, just ahead of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who collected 11.2 percent, and Rand Paul, 10.1 percent.
Pollsters interviewed 418 likely voters, including Democrats, Republicans and Independents, as well as a variety of age groups and background. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.
Christie led the pack among males, white voters, and those with a college degree.
Bush did nose out Christie among Republican respondents, 12.2 percent to 11.3 percent, while Christie led among independents with 12 percent, ahead of Paul at 10.4 percent.
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The poll offered respondents a list of 21 potential candidates. Here are the candidates and the percentage of the survey votes they received:
Christie, 11.4 percent; Bush, 11.2; Paul 10.1; Paul Ryan, 9.1; Sarah Palin, 6.9; Ted Cruz, 6.5; Marco Rubio, 3.7; Rick Santorum, 2.8; Rick Perry, 1.6; Scott Walker, 1.5; Allen West, 1.4; Ben Carson, 1.3.
Next on the list of candidates, Bobby Jindal, 0.9 percent; Mitch Daniels, 0.8; John Kasich, 0.8; Rob Portman, 0.8; Jim DeMint, 0.4; Bob McDonnell, 0.3; Susana Martinez, 0.2; Nikki Haley, 0; Jon Thune, 0.
When respondents were asked who their second choice would be in the primary, Paul Ryan led all potential candidates with 12.6 percent, ahead of Bush's 7.7 percent and Christie, who garnered 5 percent.
And when survey respondents were asked which two candidates on the list they would never vote for, Sarah Palin was cited by the most — 29.1 percent of those polled.
About 20 states hold open presidential primaries, where registered voters can cast ballots even if they are not affiliated with the Republican or Democratic parties.
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