Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, defeated Ron Paul (R-TX) in the latest Suffolk/7News poll of likely New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary voters. Mr. Huntsman pulled in 13 percent of the votes for a third place finish, while Mr. Paul garnered 8 percent of the votes for a fourth place finish. Former New Hampshire Governor Mitt Romney, a favorite to win the New Hampshire GOP Presidential Primary, earned 38 percent of the votes to take first place and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took second place with 20 percent of the votes.
Mr. Huntsman, who has campaigned almost exclusively in New Hampshire, is a newcomer to the top-tier of GOP candidates in New Hampshire. Earlier in the week, Mr. Huntsman finished behind Mr. Paul with 10 percent of the votes in a Rasmussen Reports poll and 11 percent of the votes in an Insider Advantage poll. Mr. Paul garnered 18 and 21 percent of the votes, respectively.
“If independents participate in a big way next January, Huntsman will benefit,” David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center, said in a press release.
“While other candidates have focused on the more traditional Republican voters, Huntsman has traction among independents, who could dominate the Republican Primary if mobilized,” Mr. Paleologos added.
With the Iowa GOP Caucuses only a few weeks away, the Paul campaign has launched a major ad blitz in the Hawkeye State. The ad blitz includes radio, TV and mail ads. The Paul campaign will also launch a “Christmas Vacation with Ron Paul” program. This program will utilize members of the “Youth for Ron Paul” organization to knock on doors and make phone calls on behalf of the Texas congressman.
While the Suffolk/7News poll is only one of several New Hampshire polls that will come out as the New Hampshire GOP Presidential Primary approaches, Mr. Huntsman’s jump in support raises questions about the long term impact of Mr. Paul’s focus on Iowa. However, Mr. Paul efforts in Iowa have paid off as a recent Public Policy Polling poll of likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers found the obstetrician turned congressman tied with Mr. Gingrich for first place.
“We need to do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, because it’s very important for perception,” Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton told POLITICO after the Michigan debate.
“It’s also important because the voters in those states are very adept and astute at evaluating candidates, so we need to be in the top three in those states, no question about it,” Mr. Benton added.
The Suffolk/7New poll was conducted among 400 likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
