Poll: Romney's favorable rating among very conservative voters hits new low

Nationally just 38 percent of Americans who identify themselves as “very” conservative hold a favorable opinion of Romney, down 14 points from last week to the fewest in ABC/Post polls in this election cycle. Far more in this group, 60 percent, express a positive view of Rick Santorum.

Romney is at new lows among related groups as well, with 56 percent favorability among conservative Republicans and 40 percent among all conservatives, down from last week by 13 and 10 points, respectively. But the comparison with Santorum is most striking among very conservatives, the highly ideological and predominantly Republican group on which Santorum has based his campaign strategy.

This poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that Romney comes back in less ideologically committed groups; 58 percent of Republicans have a favorable opinion of him overall. While that’s a tepid rating in his own political party, he has company: Santorum’s in almost exactly the same position among all Republicans, with 59 percent favorability.