Support for Mitt Romney is growing among Republican influentials in four key early-voting states, while support for Newt Gingrich is slipping. The latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll of GOP influentials in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Florida shows that Romney holds a 12-point lead over Gingrich (35 to 23 percent). Last week's respondents were split more evenly between the two (27 percent for Gingrich, 26 percent for Romney). All of the other candidates are registering only single digit support. Still, more than a third of the 177 people surveyed say they remain …

With less than a month to go until the New Hampshire Primary, many Republican activists still haven't made up their minds. The latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders survey of GOP influentials in the early-voting states of New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Florida shows that more than one-third of the 171 respondents are either undecided, unsure how certain they are, or could still change their minds about which candidate they plan to support. Of those who have settled on a candidate, however, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich received the most support. Romney holds a slight edge with…

When Newt Gingrich broke with the Republican "hard line" on immigration during a televised debate two weeks ago, the pundits were quick to say the move would negatively impact his suddenly surging campaign. But that doesn't appear to be the case, according to our latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders survey. A majority of Republican influentials in the early voting states of New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Florida say they feel Gingrich would do a better job than Mitt Romney on immigration, and just as many choose Gingrich's position on immigration over Romney's when presented …

He may be climbing in the polls, but influential Republicans say Newt Gingrich has a long way to go in terms of his campaign organization in the Granite State. No New Hampshire respondents rated Gingrich's campaign as the state's strongest in the latest Patch-Huffington Post GOP Power Outsiders survey. By comparison, more than half (53 percent) of the 51 local Republicans responding to the poll said that Romney has the best campaign organization in the state, followed by Ron Paul at 16 percent, Rick Perry at 10 percent, Jon Huntsman at 4 percent and Rick Santorum and Herman Cain at 2 percent …

Influential Republicans in four early-voting states see Newt Gingrich as exceptionally intelligent and experienced, but they still have questions about his electability. When asked for one word to describe the former House Speaker, 70 percent of the 154 GOP influentials in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Florida surveyed in the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll gave positive answers. Among the words used were "intelligent," "smart," "brilliant," "knowledgeable" and "competent." Synonyms of intelligence accounted for 41 percent of all responses. Nearly all of the …

Influential Republicans in four early-voting states are warming to Newt Gingrich's candidacy, according to the latest Patch-Huffington Post GOP Power Outsiders poll. The latest survey of Republican voters in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Florida shows that although GOP activists still see Mitt Romney as the most electable candidate and best on the economy, Gingrich wins praise for his knowledge, experience and positions on other contentious issues. The former House Speaker recently beefed up his New Hampshire staff, and will return to the state tomorrow to take part in the Granite…

Mitt Romney leads by a wide margin in recent polls of New Hampshire voters, but the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders survey shows there's still an opening for another candidate to make a run at the frontrunner. Two-thirds of the GOP influentials surveyed in the early primary and caucus states of New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Florida said they have not yet publicly endorsed a candidate for president. Romney – who will be in Exeter on Thursday – leads in terms of potential support, but both Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich have almost as much appeal, and Rick Perry matches …

Ron Paul has little to no chance of beating President Barack Obama, according to a poll of Republican influentials in New Hampshire and three other early-voting states. Nearly four out of five of the 190 people responding to the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll of Republican voters in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Florida said the Texas Congressman has almost no shot at winning the GOP nomination, let alone defeating Obama in the general election. Less than one-third described Paul in positive terms. Among the words used were "extreme," "crazy," "unelectable" and "…

"The 999 plan is like sending a man to the moon... it or something that radical would take massive effort and time." Not everyone asked about Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan was that negative, but many Granite State Republicans clearly don't think much of the presidential candidate's tax proposal. Nearly half (46 percent) of the New Hampshire GOP influentials who responded to the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll said they oppose the 9-9-9 plan, compared to 35 percent who support it. Seventeen percent said they were strongly opposed, while only four percent were strongly in favor. In…

Herman Cain's appeal is real, and he has what it takes to beat Barack Obama, according to a survey of Republicans in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states. Nearly three out of four of the 159 GOP influentials in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina surveyed in the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll used a positive word to describe Cain, more than was recorded for any of the others tested to date, including Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Chris Christie. The most frequently used words were "impressive," "leader," "successful," "likeable" and "charismatic." Only 11 …

Chris Christie could have been a contender for the GOP presidential nomination if he had decided to jump into the race, according to influential Republicans in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states. Fifty-seven percent of the 156 Republicans in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina surveyed for the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders Poll used positive words to describe the New Jersey governor, who announced Tuesday that he would not run for president. The most frequent positive words used to describe him were "bold," "strong," "direct" and "leader." Only 16 percent of the…

Republicans in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states have soured on Rick Perry and warmed to Mitt Romney in recent weeks, the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll shows. A majority (57 percent) of the 160 GOP influentials in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina surveyed say their impression of Perry has grown less favorable in the last two to three weeks. The reverse is true for Mitt Romney, as 47 percent say their impression of the former Massachusetts governor has become more favorable, while only 13 percent say they think less of him. In our poll four weeks ago, …

Michele Bachmann has little or no chance of winning the Republican nomination or beating President Obama in the general election, according to two thirds of those who responded to the latest Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll. Nearly four out of five (78 percent) of the 160 Republican influentials polled in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina described the Minnesota congresswoman as someone who "takes stands on issues you agree with," while only 40 percent described her as someone who "would make a good president," and 29 percent think she can beat Obama. Both Mitt Romney and Rick …

Mitt Romney is someone with "presidential" stature who can beat President Barack Obama in the general election, according to a poll of Republican influentials in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states. Fifty-nine percent of the 159 people responding to the Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll of Republican voters in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina used positive terms when asked to describe Romney in one word. Most frequently used were "presidential," "experienced," "polished," "competent" and "smooth." More than a quarter of the words used to describe Romney (28 percent…

Will she or won't she? That's been the question surrounding Sarah Palin since she last traveled to New Hampshire in early June. It's been almost three months, and the former Alaska governor still hasn't said if she's going to enter the presidential race. But as she prepares to return to the Granite State on Monday for a Tea Party Express rally in Manchester, it appears influential Republicans are overwhelmingly underwhelmed by the prospects of a Palin candidacy. According to a survey of GOP leaders in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states, 81 percent of the 151 people responding …

Republicans are split on whether Jack Kimball should step down as state GOP chairman for the good of the party and the New Hampshire Primary, according to responses to a Patch-Huffington Post poll.Should he stay or go? Out of the 47 people who responded to the Power Outsiders poll of influential GOP members in the state, 30 said they think Kimball should step down, 12 said he should stay, and 5 were undecided. Here’s what some of them had to say: “It would cause an irreparable and destructive division of the NH Republican Party.” “It’s been clear to many of us for some time now that he does …

There's been a lot of talk during this presidential campaign about how the current slate of Republican candidates is lacking that spark, that certain something needed to capture voters' imagination. That's led to a whole lot of discussion about whether potential candidates such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie might jump into the race. But according to a survey of GOP leaders in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states, most main street Republicans appear to be satisfied with the candidates they have to choose from now. Sixty…

Influential Republicans in New Hampshire and two other early-voting states feel Michele Bachmann has gained the most ground recently following her showing in last week’s GOP debate and the Iowa Straw Poll.  One-third of those responding to the new Patch-Huffington Post Power Outsiders poll of Republican voters in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina said Bachmann was seen as having done the most good for her campaign last week. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is campaigning in New Hampshire this week, finished second with 30 percent. Mitt Romney – who has been leading the polls in New Hampshire…