New Poll: Santorum leads Romney by 9

Rick Santorum has opened up a 9 point lead over Mitt Romney in a new national Quinnipiac University poll, 35% to 26%.  Gingrich is in third place with 14% and Paul is in fourth with 11%.  In a head-to-head contest, Santorum now leads Romney by 13 points, 50% to 37%. 

If there is no clear leader by the convention, Republicans say they would prefer the convention pick New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as their top choice (32%), followed by Sarah Palin and Jeb Bush (20% each), and Mitch Daniels (15%).

Santorum’s comments about birth control and women in combat apparently have not hurt him among Republican women.  He continues to obtain about the same level of support among Republican women as men.

Read the full poll results here: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=1708