Herman Cain would beat Saxby Chambliss in 2014, the poll said. | AP photo composite by POLITICO Poll: Cain tops Chambliss in primary

Herman Cain would crush Sen. Saxby Chambliss in a Republican primary if the pizza mogul were to run in 2014, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Cain led Chambliss (R-Ga.) 50 percent to 36 percent in a survey from Public Policy Polling.


Of those surveyed, 45 percent approved of the job the incumbent is doing, while 36 percent disapproved. In contrast, 68 percent said they had a favorable opinion of Cain, the former presidential hopeful, and 20 percent had an unfavorable view.

( Also on POLITICO: GOP Senate in 2014 a long shot)

The bulk of those questioned said they wanted a GOP Senate nominee to the right of Chambliss: 43 percent said they preferred someone more conservative than he is, while 38 percent said they wanted him to stay the nominee.

“I’m a problem-solver and a lot of people don’t want problem-solvers — they’d rather have the issue,” Chambliss told POLITICO earlier this week. “And I’m very open at home that I’m going to continue to work hard to solve problems because our country’s in trouble, and you can’t do it without Democrats and Republicans working together.”

( GOP risks rift with right over taxes)

PPP also offered match-ups with other possible primary challengers, including outgoing Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) and RedState.com editor Erick Erickson, but Chambliss bested all except for Cain.

Cain has said he is not seeking the Senate seat.

The poll of 729 Georgia voters — which included 389 “usual Republican primary voters” — was conducted Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and has an overall margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.6 percent, though the margin of error for likely primary voters is plus-or-minus 5 percent.

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