CNN Poll: Perry a Close Second

Texas governor Rick Perry continues to post strong poll numbers in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, though like Sarah Palin, he has yet to throw his hat in the ring.

According to a national CNN/ORC poll released Thursday, 15% of Republicans and independents favor Perry as the GOP candidate, only two points behind front-runner and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (full results here).

Rep. Michele Bachmann, who has had a strong showing in recent Iowa polls, came in at only 7%. She will be joined onstage by six fellow contenders at this evening's Iowa debate, sponsored by Fox News and The Washington Examiner.

Perry, who hosted a 30,000-attendee prayer rally Saturday that drew protests because of the event's affiliation with the antigay American Family Association, will make appearances in three early-voting primary or caucus states this weekend: South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Iowa.

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