Among Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, new Quinnipiac poll favors Romney

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A new poll taken among likely Florida Republican voters shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney heading into Tuesday's presidential preference primary in the Sunshine State with a 14-point lead over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey conducted Friday through Sunday among 539 likely GOP voters in Florida had Romney favored by 43 percent of the respondents compared to 29 percent who preferred Gingrich. The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points, showed U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum each at 11 percent.

Romney also was favored by a 40-31 margin over Gingrich among self-described conservatives.

Romney built on a lead of 9 percentage points over Gingrich in a Quinnipiac poll released on Friday.

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