Public Policy Polling (8/12-14, Republican primary voters):
Michele Bachmann: 24
Rick Perry: 20
Mitt Romney: 17
Someone else/undecided: 11
Newt Gingrich: 10
Herman Cain: 7
Ron Paul: 6
Tim Pawlenty: 4
Jon Huntsman: 1
(MoE: ±5.2%)
Keep in mind that Perry officially announced his candidacy while this poll was in the field, and it doesn't reflect any impact his comments on the Federal Reserve may have had. PPP also tested a GOP lineup featuring Sarah Palin. In that lineup, Bachmann and Perry tied for the lead at 20 percent each, with Romney still in third, at 13 percent.
Bachmann's and Perry's strength comes from conservative Republicans while Romney does better with moderates. Romney's problem is that 77 percent of Republicans say they are conservative while just 14 percent say they are moderate, so it's not hard to see why his numbers are suffering.
With Romney support collapsing and Bachmann and Perry surging, is it any wonder that establishment Republicans are praying at the altar of Chris Christie and Paul Ryan to run in 2012?