A poll released on Christmas Day found that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney still appears to be in firm command of the New Hampshire primary. The poll also found that Texas Congressman Ron Paul has pulled into a dead tie for second place with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. 

The Boston Globe Poll, prepared by the UNH Survey Center, sampled 1,104 New Hampshire adults. Thirty-nine percent said they support Romney, while Paul and Gingrich tied with 17 percent. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman came in fourth with 11 percent, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum came in fifth with 3 percent. Four percent chose other candidates and 8 percent said they didn’t know.

Romney’s support was even stronger among registered Republicans, 45 percent of whom opted for him. Another 22 percent of Republicans picked Gingrich, while just 11 percent selected Paul. But 25 percent of undeclared voters support Paul, putting him well ahead of Gingrich (11 percent) and within striking distance of Romney (32 percent).
New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 10, a week after Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus