Peter Brown, assistant director at the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute in Hamden, Conn.

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Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said Weiner "jumps into the mix at 15 percent" because of high name recognition.

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But the survey by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute showed Mr Romney topped Barack Obama 47-40% in a possible 2012 contest, with Mr Obama beating Mr Perry 44-42%.

BBC: Rick Perry (left) and Mitt Romney