WASHINGTON — Texas Gov. Rick Perry hasn’t even declared that he will run for president, but he’s already surged to second place in a new national Republican poll.
Perry was trailing presumed front-runner Mitt Romney by just 2 points, 16 to 14 percent, in a new CNN/ORC poll.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin, who aren’t taking active steps to run, trailed with 13 percent each.
Republican Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann followed with 12 percent.
Perry comes in first in the Republican field among Tea Party supporters.