Poll finds most GOP voters opposed to brokered convention

A new poll finds most Republican voters opposed to the idea of a brokered convention to select the party's 2012 presidential nominee.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday finds that 66 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents surveyed are opposed to a brokered convention and would prefer that one of the four candidates secure the nomination beforehand. Twenty-nine percent would not oppose a brokered convention.

The poll also found that 57 percent of GOP voters don't believe the extended fight for the nomination is hurting the party.

The poll comes as presumptive front-runner Mitt Romney finds himself in a tight race with surging former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.). Santorum rode a trio of upsets in Missouri, Colorado and Minnesota to the top of polls nationally.

Polls also show him leading Romney in Michigan and closing the gap in Arizona, the next two GOP contests.

A win for Santorum in Michigan could throw the Romney campaign into turmoil. The former Massachusetts governor has struggled to rally GOP voters unconvinced of his conservative bona fides.

But the poll also reveals lingering dissatisfaction with the current GOP field. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed wish another candidate was in the race, while 44 percent say they are satisfied with their choices in the field.

A third of voters-at-large also say the GOP's selection will affect November's outcome.

Thirty percent of all registered voters predict President Obama will win in the general election, with 22 percent saying the Republican candidate will win. However, 32 percent say the general election result depends on the candidate who wins the GOP nomination.

The poll was conducted from and has a four-point margin of error for all voters and a six-point margin of error for GOP voters.

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