ABC News Poll: Conservatives Even on Gingrich, Romney

Conservatives have equally favorable views of Republican presidential Rivals Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. However, Gingrich does slightly better than Romney among those who consider themselves very conservative, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows.

The poll found that 50 percent of conservatives overall held a favorable view of both former House Speaker Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Romney. Among Republicans, 60 percent had a favorable view of Gingrich, compared with 56 percent for Romney.

Among conservative Republicans, 67 percent viewed Gingrich favorably, compared with 63 percent for Romney. Among those who are very conservative, Gingrich was at 59 percent to Romney’s 57 percent, the poll showed.

“The fact that Romney passes the threshold of likability among the Republican base [unlike Texas Gov. Rick Perry] may be enough to help eventually quell repeated conservative searching for an alternative,” according to The Washington Post’s Behind the Numbers blog. “Romney continually ranks as the most likely candidate to beat President Obama in the general election.”