Iowa Poll: 24% Say Ron Paul Is ‘Most Principled’ Candidate; 17% Say Bachmann; 14% Say Romney

Rep. Ron Paul campaigning in Ames, Iowa, on Aug. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(CNSNews.com) - When Republicans and Independents who are planning to attend next month’s Iowa Republican caucuses were asked who they believe is the “most principled” candidate in the Republican field, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas ranked first with 24 percent, according to a Des Moines Register poll released Sunday.

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota was second with 17 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ranked third with 14 percent.

The Des Moines Register poll, conducted Nov. 27-30, asked 401 likely Republican caucusgoers:  “Regardless of which candidate you support as your first choice, which one would you say is most principled?”

The full results for the question were as follows:

Ron Paul                                24 percent

Michele Bachmann                17 percent

Mitt Romney                           14 percent

Rick Santorum                       11 percent

Newt Gingrich                         11 percent

None/Not sure                        10 percent

Rick Perry                                7 percent

Herman Cain                           4 percent

Jon Huntsman`                        2 percent

When the likely Republican caucus goers were asked who would be their first choice for president, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia was first with 25 percent, followed by Paul with 18 percent and Romney with 16 percent.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.