Poll: Romney leads Perry in California

Dan Smith | The Sacramento Bee

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is maintaining his edge over a surging Texas Gov. Rick Perry among Republicans looking to California's June 2012 presidential primary, according to a new Field Poll.

The poll shows Romney's support has dipped slightly since June while Perry more than tripled his. But Romney still holds an eight-point lead.

"Perry really hasn't taken it out of the hide of Romney, and that's good news for Romney," said Poll Director Mark DiCamillo.

Romney and Perry are the only Republican candidates with positive image ratings among GOP voters. "It looks like it's boiling down to a two-person race," DiCamillo said. "The others just aren't stacking up as well in comparison."

Pollsters also asked voters of all parties to choose between President Barack Obama and Romney, and between Obama and Perry. Obama prevailed by double-digits in both hypothetical matchups, despite softening support for the Democratic incumbent in California.

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