Mitt Romney leads Rick Perry 24-20 among Republicans in Ohio, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Wednesday.

The poll finds potential candidate Sarah Palin at 9 percent, Herman Cain at 7 percent, Ron Paul at 6 percent, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum each at 4 percent, Michele Bachmann at 3 percent and Jon Huntsman at 1 percent.

“The Republican presidential race in Ohio at this point is shifting back and forth between former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

If Ohio Republicans were given just a choice between the two, Perry would lead 42-38, the poll found.

“Perry’s strength is among two large constituencies within the Republican coalition. In a two-man race, Perry defeats Romney 57 – 30 percent among Republicans who consider themselves part of the Tea Party movement. He leads Romney 48 – 33 percent among Republicans who are white, evangelical Christians.”