RUTHFULLY YOURS

By ALLYSIA FINLEY

A new Gallup poll suggests that a possible late entry into the GOP presidential primary by Texas Gov. Rick Perry should concern frontrunners Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann.

Mr. Perry would start the race in second place with 18% support, trailing Mr. Romney by five points while leading Ms. Bachmann by four, according to Gallup. In the past month, Ms. Bachmann has surged 11 points in the polls, primarily by nibbling away at Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain’s tea party support. Gallup predicts that the Texas governor would take a five-point bite out of her tea party support.

Since May, Mr. Romney has also shot up 10 points due to the growing Republican perception that he’s the frontrunner and would be the most viable candidate in the general election. That perception could change if Mr. Perry were to enter the race, which recent reports indicate is very likely.

Last week, Mr. Perry told the Des Moines Register that “I’m getting more and more comfortable every day that this is what I’ve been called to do. This is what America needs.” He sparked more conjecture earlier this week when he met with high-ranking politicians from Tennessee and Georgia. A group of influential New Hampshire Republicans is also planning a mission to Austin next week to recruit the rock-star governor.

None of this is good news for Mr. Romney a

nd Ms. Bachmann. Mr. Perry would be a serious contender in early contests like the Iowa caucuses and the South Carolina primary. But the Gallup poll may be even worse news for Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman, who are bringing up the caboose at 4% and 2%, respectively. Their numbers remain relatively unchanged regardless of who enters the field — Mr. Perry, Sarah Palin or Rudy Giuliani. This indicates that the two candidates have a small core of supporters who aren’t going anywhere but also aren’t increasing in number.

Neither Mr. Huntsman nor Mr. Pawlenty has generated as much enthusiasm as their campaigns had hoped. In fact, Mr. Perry likely wouldn’t be considering a bid if he didn’t see an enthusiasm gap that he thinks he can fill.