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Cain, Romney Lead Pack in SC, Florida

Rick Perry in single digits in both places

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 19, 2011 1:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – The GOP primary is a two-horse race at the moment in pivotal South Carolina and Florida—just not between the two horses you thought it would be last month. Herman Cain has taken the lead in both states, topping Romney 30% to 26% in South Carolina and by a slim 32% to 31% margin in Florida, according to new NBC-Marist polls. Rick Perry is a distant third in both states, with 9% in South Carolina and 8% in Florida. (Both were conducted before last night's debate.)

Cain and Romney are playing to very different crowds, with Cain scoring well among Tea Partiers, very conservative voters, and evangelicals, and Romney performing well with moderate and liberal Republicans. “This is a very, very divided electorate,” one pollster said. Cain’s supporters are also more enthusiastic; in Florida 52% of Cain’s backers “strongly” support him, to 41% of Romney’s. Then there’s this: In South Carolina, 53% of likely voters say Mormons aren’t Christians, and among them, Cain leads Romney 33% to 19%.

Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, points at businessman Herman Cain during a Republican presidential debate Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Cain, Romney Lead Pack in SC, Florida

Rick Perry in single digits in both places

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Florida • Mitt Romney • South Carolina • Rick Perry • Republican presidential primaries • South Carolina primary • Florida primary • poll numbers • Election 2012 • Mitt Romney 2012 • GOP primary • Herman Cain • Herman Cain 2012

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More Newser Stories

Cain Leaps Past Perry, Nearly Ties Romney

Gallup poll shows Romney at 20%, Cain at 18%, Perry at 15%

Flush Romney Camp Rules Fla. Airwaves

Florida ads expensive, Mitt rivals low on funds

In Iowa, Expect the Unexpected

...And a lot of spin afterward

Gingrich, Romney Tied for Second

Behind a damaged Herman Cain, according to new poll

Romney Grabs Lead in Pennsylvania

Meanwhile, Santorum says 'damn right' we cling to guns, religion

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