Campaign Journal: Manchester, N.H.

Published by Tracie Mauriello on Monday, 02 January 2012 12:07 am.

Mitt Romney has opened a commanding lead in New Hampshire, according to results of a poll released late last night.

Forty-one percent of likely voters in the GOP primary favor the former Massachusetts governor. Ron Paul came in second with 11 percent followed by Jon Huntsman, with 9 percent. Sixteen percent remain undecided, according to the poll by the Political Research Center of Boston’s Suffolk University.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich fell from second place since the last Suffolk University poll in mid-December.

Only one candidate – Romney – can win both Iowa and New Hampshire, said David Paleologos, the center’s director.

Mr. Romney’s support is driven by older New Hampshire voters, according to poll results.

“They have lived through good and bad economies and appear to believe that Mitt Romney is the right Republican leader for the times,” Mr. Paleologos said.

Fifty percent of respondents said they are unlikely to change their minds. Huntsman – the only candidate with feet on the ground in New Hampshire now – has the most loyal following, with 76 percent saying they were unlikely to change their minds.

The poll was conducted Friday and Saturday. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.

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