New poll shows GOP voters strongly value private sector experience in 2012 nominee

Natalie Gonnella 

Republicans want experience in a leader, and they aren't just talking about government expertise.

In a Rasmussen poll released this week, GOP voters overwhelmingly stressed the importance of private sector "know how" for the 2012 nominee:

[Nine out of ten] of likely GOP Primary Voters say that a candidate’s experience in the private sector is at least somewhat important. That includes 54% who say private sector experience is Very Important.

Not discounting the benefits of political experience, 85% of participants did say it was somewhat important, however only one in four felt that it was "Very Important."

Of the top potential contenders for the GOP nomination, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has the most extensive private sector resume. He also, according to recent surveys (Rasmussen, New Hampshire straw poll) continues to hold a slight lead over his competitors.  

Not surprisingly, like voters, Romney believes it is critical for the Republican nominee to have a solid business and economic portfolio, an opinion he has expressed twice in the last week.

In an interview with Fox News last Wednesday, Romney said:

You know, I don't know who all is going to get in the race, but I do believe that it would be helpful if at least one of the people who's running in the Republican field had extensive experience in the private sector -- in small business and big business, working with the economy.

And today on Good Morning America, the former Governor reiterated his view:

I can tell you that I'm very drawn to the fact that this country needs someone who has private sector experience because this economy is troubled. We've got a president who says a lot of the right things, but doesn't know how to get the job done. Almost everything he has done in his first two years has made it more difficult for our economy to grow. It's been the most anti-investment, anti-jobs, anti-growth administration we've seen in a long, long time. And so I'm inclined to make there's somebody in the race who really understands how the economy works.