Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Santorum Catches Romney in GOP Race

Obama Leads Both in General Election Matchups

February 13, 2012

Rick Santorum's has pulled into a virtual tie with Mitt Romney in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Feb. 8-12. Barack Obama holds sizable leads over Santorum, Romney and Newt Gingrich in general election matchups.

Santorum is now the clear favorite of Republican and GOP-leaning voters who agree with the Tea Party, as well as white evangelical Republicans. Currently, 42% of Tea Party Republican voters favor Santorum, compared with just 23% who back Romney. Santorum holds an almost identical advantage among white evangelical Republican voters (41% to 23%).

Romney holds leads over Santorum among non-Tea Party Republicans (34% to 19%) and moderate and liberal Republicans (34% to 20%).

Read the full report for more details on these findings:

• Doubts among Republicans about Romney's conservatism and consistency
• Romney's prospects for uniting the party if he were to win the Republican nomination
• The role of independents in general election match-ups