Poll: Despite RINO Tag, Romney is Presidential, Experienced

Influential conservatives in three early GOP nominating states find former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney polished, exerienced and electable -- despite the tag that he's a "Republican in name only."

Romney polled just as strongly as Texas Gov. Rick Perry in this week's Huffington Post/ Patch poll.

More than four out of five respondents in South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa described Romney as someone who "takes stands on issues you agree with" (80 percent). Even more say he "would make a good president" (86 percent)" and "can beat Barack Obama in the general election" (89 percent).

Nearly 60 percent of those polled used a positive word when describing Romney. The nearly 30 percent who used a negative word focused on concerns that he is a RINO, flip-flopper or slick.

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