United Liberty

Someone pointed out not too long ago that history shows that whoever won the Iowa caucus and South Carolina primary has traditionally gone on to win the Republican presidential nomination. According to polling in the Hawkeye State, Rick Perry is holding a small lead there over Mitt Romney. But a new poll from Public Policy Policy out of South Carolina shows Perry running away with the state:

• Rick Perry: 36%
• Mitt Romney: 13%
• Sarah Palin: 10%
• Herman Cain: 9%
• Michele Bachmann: 7%
• Newt Gingrich: 7%
• Ron Paul: 5%
• Rick Santorum: 4%
• Jon Huntsman: 2%
• Other/Not sure: 7%

And without Palin in the race:

• Rick Perry: 36%
• Mitt Romney: 16%
• Michele Bachmann: 13%
• Herman Cain: 9%
• Newt Gingrich: 8%
• Ron Paul: 5%
• Rick Santorum: 4%
• Jon Huntsman: 2%
• Other/Not sure: 7%

While Romney would best Bachmann, 45% to 40%, in a head-to-head match up, Perry would beat him decisively, 59% to 28%. That’s certainly an ominous sign for Romney in a crucial early primary state.