Poll: Huntsman gains in New Hampshire

A new poll found Jon Huntsman with the support of 11 percent of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire, his best showing so far in the Granite State.

The conservative pollster Rasmussen Reports released its poll Tuesday, finding the former Utah governor trailing Mitt Romney (34 percent), Newt Gingrich (24 percent) and Ron Paul (14 percent). 

The Huntsman campaign said the poll reflects its internal polling.

“It’s largely consistent with the recent body of Granite State polling in which the governor has registered between 8 and 11 points,” A Huntsman campaign staffer said.

The poll’s showing is the best for Huntsman in New Hampshire, where he has staked his presidential campaign’s political future. Past polls have shown Huntsman at 10 percent in the state. He is hoping that if he can dominate or perform well in the New Hampshire Republican primary he will be able to use the momentum in other coveted primary states.

Huntsman’s schedule reflects that. This week he’s in New Hampshire until Thursday and then spending Friday and Saturday in South Carolina, another key primary state.

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