Romney (left) is familiar in New Hampshire; it's also where Huntsman's making a stand. | AP Photos Mitt strong, Huntsman gaining in N.H.

Mitt Romney has maintained his decisive lead in New Hampshire while Jon Huntsman has begun to gain traction in a must-win state for both, according to a new Suffolk University/WHDH-TV survey.

In the poll of 400 likely Republican primary voters, the former Massachusetts governor is at 41 percent — 27 points ahead of his nearest rival.


Texas Rep. Ron Paul’s in second place, with 14 percent. Huntsman has jumped to 10 percent, from 4 percent in the last Suffolk/WHDH poll in June.

Romney enjoys wide name recognition and has an organization full of veterans of the first-primary state, where he’s bought a home and launched his campaign at the beginning of the summer. But it’s also where Huntsman’s hitched his fortunes, hoping that a combination of intense focus and appeal to the registered independents who can cast ballots in the primary will launch his campaign forward after a slow start.

National poll frontrunner Rick Perry, who’s focused his campaign elsewhere after a short swing through the state immediately after jumping into the race last month, is in fourth, with 8 percent.

The poll also shows Bachmann’s momentum continuing to drop. In the June Suffolk/WHDH poll, taken two weeks after the New Hampshire debate where she announced her candidacy, Bachmann was in second place, with 11 percent. In Wednesday’s poll, she’s down to 5 percent.

Newt Gingrich polls at 4 percent in New Hampshire, a 2-percent uptick since June.

Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Buddy Roemer, who has leased a Manchester apartment in hopes of making a strong appeal to New Hampshire voters, all have one percent support.

Gary Johnson and Thad McCotter, who pollsters included in the survey, received no support.

The poll surveyed 400 likely GOP voters from Sept. 18-20. The margin of error is 4.9 percentage points.