Poll gives edge to GOP mainstream
Jan 20, 2015, 3:58 PM | Updated: 3:59 pm
According to conventional wisdom, strident activists will dominate the Republican primaries, but a new poll suggests otherwise.
A CBS news survey asked self-identified Republicans whether or not they wanted to see various candidates run for president. A plurality of GOP voters had negative responses to the candidacy of many candidates associated with the Tea Party wing of the Party—hoping that Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, and Rick Perry won’t run. Sarah Palin got the worst reaction of all: 59 percent wanted her to stay in Alaska, while response to Chris Christie was also strongly negative. Candidates perceived as representing the party’s mainstream got positive responses—including Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Ben Carson.
Most positive of all? By more than two to one, surveyed Republicans hoped for a third race by Mitt Romney, and the former governor looks ready to give them what they want.