CNN Poll: Perry still at top but Romney stronger vs. Obama - CNN

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/26/cnn-poll-perry-still-at-top-but-romney-stronger-vs-obama/

This is no great mystery. Perry is not a good national candidate and Romney is tolerable to independents, but Perry pleases the Republican base. Perry had a terrible week last week based on his performance in the two most recent debates. His stammering, pointless, and vague effort perhaps reminds people of the last time they nominated a Texan to run the country. Not good.
But remember that Perry not only klutzed the debates last week, he also faced a widespread assault by the other candidates as well as the Establishment GOP, and yet he still leads. The last 14 days saw the East Coast Conservative Offensive, a desperate attempt to finally install Romney as the candidate, or to at least derail the Perry candidacy. Many conservative media stars knitted brows and clucked disapproval at the Perry candidacy, thinly veiled acknowledgement that Perry would drive independents away in droves, and they engaged in what appeared to be an agreed upon march against his camp.
It failed, for now, and Perry still leads but is a wounded candidate in danger of ceding his lead to Romney. His next debate performance, if somewhat cogent and aggresive, may save him.