September 26, 2011 11:56 PM UTC

New CNN Poll: Don't Laugh Perry Off Yet?

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• by: Colorado Pols

In all our recent talking down of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s presdiential prospects, we’d be remiss if we failed to note this poll today from CNN and ORC International Research–is it too soon to count Perry out? Early debate face-plants not indicative of future success?

Despite his performances in the two most recent Republican presidential debates, a new national survey indicates that Texas Gov. Rick Perry remains on top of the field in the race for the GOP nomination.

But a CNN/ORC International Poll also indicates that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney does better than Perry in hypothetical 2012 general election matchups against President Barack Obama and matches evenly with the president on the issues and on personal characteristics.

According to the survey, which was released Monday, 28 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say they support Perry as their party’s presidential nominee, with Romney at 21 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is at ten percent, with Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who’s making his third bid for the White House, former Godfather’s Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, all at seven percent. The poll indicates that Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is at four percent, with former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at three percent and former Utah Gov. and ambassador to China Jon Huntsman at one percent…

The poll was conducted Friday through Sunday, after last Thursday’s debate in Orlando, Florida. Pundits and analysts rate Perry’s performance in that debate, and in a debate one a week and a half earlier in Tampa, Florida, as uneven. Perry’s distant second showing at a much-watched straw poll of Florida GOP activists this past weekend may be a reflection of his debate performances, and his stance on illegal immigration and border security, which were spotlighted in both debates.

According to this poll, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are statistically tied in a head-to-head matchup, but Obama is ahead of Perry by 5 points. Consistent with other polls showing that while Perry is more popular with the Republican base, it’s a different story selling these candidates–either of them–to the whole country, even as Obama faces tough poll numbers of his own.

Or, maybe nobody’s watching debates yet. We can imagine Perry hoping not.