Self-described Tea Party voters remain divided among several candidates in the Republican primary, according to the latest national Public Policy Polling survey of the race.
Top-line results show Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, leading the field with 31% as former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., comes in second with 18%. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., placed fifth with 9%, behind Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas and Newt Gingrich, who garnered 11% and 10% respectively.
The raft of candidates polling around 10% reflects division among the Tea Party voters in the poll. Perry would enjoy 33% of the Tea Party votes if the election were held today, but three other candidates poll in double-digits: Bachmann (14%), Herman Cain (13%), Newt Gingrich (10%). Rep. Ron Paul comes in with 9% support in the Tea Party.
Notably, Bachmann receives such a low percentage of Tea Party votes even though she has the highest favorability numbers of any candidate, with 69%. Perry, even though he has only a 66% favorability rating from Tea Party voters, more than doubles Bachmann’s numbers when Tea Partiers how they’ll vote.
