Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is crushing the Republican field in New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday, according to two polls released Friday.

Romney is leading in New Hampshire, according to a Suffolk University/7News poll released on Friday, while former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who was only eight votes behind Romney in Tuesday night’s Iowa caucus, continues to move up in the Granite State.

Romney takes 40 percent in the Suffolk poll with U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in second with 17 percent. Santorum has third with 11 percent in the poll, ahead of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 9 percent and former Jon Huntsman of Utah, who has focused his campaign in New Hampshire, with 8 percent. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who has turned to South Carolina after a fifth-place finish in Iowa, lags far behind with 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 which has been running daily tracking polls for the New Hampshire primary. “He has cleared the Gingrich and Huntsman hurdles for third place and is only 6 points away from second place. Watch out, Ron Paul.”
 
The poll of 500 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters was taken on Jan. 4-5 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.

Another poll released on Friday -- this time from Rasmussen Reports -- also has Romney far out in front of the pack in New Hampshire.

Romney leads the field, with 42 percent, followed by Paul with 18 percent, Santorum with 13 percent and Huntsman with 12 percent. Gingrich takes 8 percent and Perry pulls 1 percent.

The poll of 750 likely Republican primary voters was taken Jan. 5 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

 

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.