Mitt Romney continues to lead in both New Hampshire and Iowa, according to two new NBC News/Marist polls out today. However, while Romney has a commanding lead in the Granite State (he is 31 percentage points ahead of Herman Cain and Ron Paul, who are tied for second), he is only 3 points ahead in Iowa of Cain, within the poll’s 5.1 percentage point margin of error.
Results from poll of Iowa GOP likely caucus-goers: Romney (23 percent), Cain (20 percent), Paul (11 percent), Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry (10 percent), Newt Gingrich (4 percent), Rick Santorum (3 percent), Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson (1 percent). Sixteen percent remain undecided.
Tea Partiers constitute half of likely Iowa caucus goers, and right now, Cain is polling better among self-identified Tea Partiers, winning 31 percent support to Romney’s 15 percent.
Results from poll of New Hampshire likely GOP voters: Romney (44 percent), Cain and Paul (13 percent), Perry (6 percent), Huntsman (5 percent), Gingrich (4 percent), Bachmann (2 percent), Santorum and Johnson (1 percent).