Rasmussen Poll: Romney 40, Santorum 24

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, coming off his primary wins in Arizona and Michigan, has jumped to a 16-point lead over Rick Santorum in the battle for the Republican presidential nomination, according to the latest Rasmussen poll.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely Republican primary voters shows Romney with 40 percent to 24 percent for the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. This is Romney's biggest lead to date and the highest level of support any GOP candidate has earned in regular surveying of the race. Two weeks ago, it was Santorum 39 percent, Romney 27 percent.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich earns 16 percent support, closely followed by Texas Congressman Ron Paul at 12 percent. Two percent prefer some other candidate, and 6 percent are undecided. The new findings mark virtually no change in national support for Gingrich and Paul.

The national survey of 1,000  was conducted on February 29, 2012  and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.