Rep. Michele Bachmann jumped ahead of former Gov. Tim Pawlenty in her first CNN national 2012 poll — but it's Donald Trump who vaulted up to the top of the presidential survey.
Trump tied former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 19 percent in the CNN poll, followed by the trio of former Govs. Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Bachmann debuts in the monthly poll in 7th at 5 percent, and Pawlenty is at 2 percent in 9th.
The good news for Pawlenty and Bachmann is this poll comes with two large caveats: Many of the potential candidates polling in double digits may not run, and it's results from the early primary and caucus states that will largely determine the 2012 GOP nominating contest.
Still, this poll will fuel even more interest in a Trump run, something that would drive attention away from Pawlenty in a crowded field.
Pawlenty has been stuck below 5 percent in every CNN poll this year. His advisers attribute early low polling numbers to low name recognition, but the more candidates that enter the race, the harder it is for Pawlenty to get his name out there.
See the full results here.
