President 2012 Poll Watch: Rick Perry Moving On Up

According to the latest CNN/ORC International Poll.

As Texas Gov. Rick Perry comes closer to jumping into the race for the White House, he’s also close to the top of a new national survey in the battle for the GOP presidential nomination.

A CNN/ORC International Poll released Friday indicates that 14% of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP pick Perry as their first choice for their party’s nomination, just two points behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who’s making his second bid for the White House.

Romney’s two point margin over Perry is within the survey’s sampling error.

Both former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are at 13%, according to the poll.

My feeling is that the Texas Governor will become the anti-Romney candidate and replace Michele Bachmann with that regard by the South Carolina GOP primary election. But, make no mistake that Michele Bachmann has raised a ton of money and will be formidable in Iowa and South Carolina.

The wild card remains Sarah Palin.