New Hampshire poll: Romney still up big; Santorum gains

Mitt Romney is still crushing the GOP presidential field in New Hampshire, but Rick Santorum is the only Republican candidate on the rise and has hit double digits for the first time, according to the latest Suffolk University two-day tracking poll released on Friday.

Romney leads among likely GOP primary voters with 40 percent, followed by Ron Paul at 17 percent, Rick Santorum at 11 percent, Newt Gingrich at 9 percent, Jon Huntsman at 8 percent, and Rick Perry at 1 percent.

“Rick Santorum is the only Republican candidate moving up in New Hampshire,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston.  “He has cleared the Gingrich and Huntsman hurdles for third place and is only 6 points away from second place.  Watch out Ron Paul.”

Santorum, whose surprise, late surge in the Iowa caucuses nearly toppled Romney in the Hawkeye State, has gained support every day in New Hampshire since Suffolk began its daily tracking.

Santorum is up 8 points since the first daily tracking poll was released on Jan. 1.

Still, Romney seems to feel his lead is safe in the Granite State. The former Massachusetts governor spent the day campaigning in South Carolina, though the New Hampshire primary is only four days away.

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