Santorum takes lead in fourth survey but GOP voters still pick Romney as likely nominee

A new survey released Tuesday is the fourth national poll to show Rick Santorum snatching the lead in the race for the GOP nomination from Mitt Romney.

Santorum earned 34 percent of support by Republican voters surveyed compared to Romney’s 32 percent, according to the poll from CNN and ORC International. Santorum’s lead is within the margin of error, but his numbers are a huge jump from CNN/ORC’s poll last month, when Santorum took 15 percent.

Ron Paul took 16 percent and Newt Gingrich took dead last with 15 percent.

The poll was conducted from February 10 to 13, after Santorum won Republican contests in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado, stealing momentum from both Romney and Gingrich.

However, Republican voters by a wide margin still think that Romney will win the GOP nomination. When asked who is “most likely to win the Republican nomination,” Romney took 68 percent compared to Santorum with 13 percent, Gingrich with 11 percent and Ron Paul with 5 percent.

Romney also topped the field with 55 percent when voters were asked which candidate has the “best chance of beating Barack Obama in the general election.” Santorum convinced 18 percent, Gingrich 14 percent, and Paul 7 percent.

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