It's Valentine's Day and when it comes to the Republican candidates for President, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is getting all the love.  That's according to the new Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released today.

Both Santorum and former Massachussetts Governor Mitt Romney are tied at 33 percent among Republican preferences for their parties nomination according to the poll.  Newt Gingrich, once the front runner, is fading with just 15 percent, while Ron Paul trails with seven percent.  

"Santorum not only ties Romney, but he's the preferred second choice for Republicans, getting 29 percent more than any of his collegues," said Poll Director Peter Woolley.   "The bad news for Romney is when you ask people their second choice and Romney wasn't their first, he's not their second either.  That really suggests a big problem for Romney heading into Super Tuesday."    

"The good news is that he's not Republican voters least favorite either," said Woolley.  "That goes to Ron Paul with 48 percent naming him their least favorite.  Interestingly enough, Ron Paul is the only Republican to best the president among independent voters.  But, one in five Republicans aren't sure they'd vote for him." 

The country's "right direction" number is up 12 points since December, to 32 percent, while the "wrong track" number declined by 11 points to 59 percent from 70 percent.  But the president's approval has not improved, with 44 percent approving to 48 percent disapproving.

"If 48 percent of voters can disapprove of the president and the president can still beat all of the Republican candidates, it is a reflection of the weakness of the Republican field," said Woolley.

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