Romney Holds Commanding Lead in New Hampshire

A new WMUR poll shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with a commanding lead over the rest of the Republican field in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary.

The survey of 357 likely Republican primary voters, conducted between June 21 and July 1, gives Romney 35 percent of the vote to 12 percent for U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.  Bachmann’s support in the state has tripled since her appearance in the nationally-televised debate sponsored by CNN, WMUR and the New Hampshire Union Leader on June 13.

Texas congressman Ron Paul, who dropped a few percentage points since the last WMUR survey, and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has not yet announced his 2012 intentions, are tied for third place at seven percent.

The WMUR Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center gave Texas Gov. Rick Perry — another undeclared possibility — four percent and showed former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, languishing at three percent apiece.

Utah’s Jon Huntsman, the former U.S. ambassador to China who’s banking on a strong showing in the New Hampshire primary, polled a dismal 2 percent in the survey, tying him with Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, whose campaign is reportedly a million dollars in debt, ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson were favored by only one percent of likely GOP primary voters while Buddy Roemer, the former governor of Louisiana, polled less than one percent.

The poll is particularly bad news for Gingrich’s troubled candidacy.  A CNN/WMUR Poll in May showed the former Speaker’s support at 6 percent in New Hampshire.

Among the declared candidates, Gingrich’s campaign appears to be in “dire straits,“ said Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.  “His staff has deserted him, his net favorability ratings have collapsed, and he is now the least popular candidate in New Hampshire.”