CAMPAIGN 2012

Poll: Cain Support Rises Despite Harassment Allegations

Updated: November 4, 2011 | 8:31 a.m.
November 4, 2011 | 7:16 a.m.

As controversy builds around businessman Herman Cain's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows he is still running neck-and-neck with co-frontrunner Mitt Romney, and his support has actually increased over the past month.

Romney leads Cain, 25 percent to 23 percent, well within the poll's margin of error of +/- 5 percent.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry was third, at 14 percent, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ran fourth with 12 percent.

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, is at 9 percent. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is at four percent and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former Sen. Rick Santorum are both at 1 percent.

The overwhelming majority of Republicans are still unfazed by the sexual harassment allegations against Cain. Just 23 percent say the allegations make them less likely to vote for Cain, while 69 percent say the allegations make no difference.

The poll was conducted Oct. 31-Nov. 3, beginning the evening after Politico first reported the harassment allegations, but some of the interviews were conducted before a fuller scope of the charges against Cain became public. ABC's Jonathan Karl reported on "Good Morning America" Friday that the percentage of Republicans who called the charges a serious matter actually declined as the week went on.

In the previous ABC News/Washington Post poll, conducted in late September and early October, Romney was at 20 percent, and Perry and Cain tied for second with 15 percent; that matchup also included New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who later announced he would not run.

The poll surveyed 379 Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters.

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