CNN Poll: Perry Still Leads Romney

Republican presidential candidates may have inflicted damage on their competitor Rick Perry in the past two debates, but he still leads the field in a new CNN/ORC International poll.

The survey showed that Republicans and independents who lean Republican give the Texas governor 28 percent support, compared to 21 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich placed third with 10 percent, followed by Texas Rep. Ron Paul, businessman Herman Cain, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who hasn’t entered the race, with 7 percent.

Then come Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann at 4 percent, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 3 percent, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman with 1 percent.

The survey shows that Romney would do best against Obama among all registered voters. A race between the two has Obama at 49 percent and Romney, at 48 percent. Against Perry, Obama leads 51 percent to 46 percent. The margin of error for this part of the poll is three percentage points.