Former businessman Herman Cain holds a narrow lead in South Carolina’s Republican primary, and he’s running neck and neck inFlorida with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, according to two new NBC News-Marist polls.
These two states have played pivotal roles in past Republican presidential nominating contests: Since 1980, the winner of South Carolina’s GOP primary has gone on to win the party’s nomination, whileFlorida ultimately decided the party’s pick in 2008. This cycle, South Carolina’s contest will occur on Jan. 21 and Florida’s will take place on Jan. 31.
“The road to the convention is going to gothrough these two states,” said Lee Miringoff, the director of Marist College’s Institute for Public Opinion.
Story: Romney and Perry spar at Nevada debate
In South Carolina (
Download poll PDF ), Cain gets the support of30 percent of likely GOP primary voters — determined by past participation, interest and chance of vote — and Romney gets 26 percent. They’re followedby Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 9 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 6 percent andReps. Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul at 5 percenteach; 15 percent of likely primary voters are undecided.

Download poll PDF

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/FL_Poll%20Results_Questionnaire_111018.pdf

Either one is bad business for this country.