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  (Photo: Reuters / Shannon Stapleton)
  U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) talks to the audience after the end of the first New Hampshire debate of the 2012 campaign at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire June 13, 2011.

After a strong performance in Republican debate in New Hampshire, followed by her impressive speech Friday at the Republican Leadership in New Orleans, Rep. Michele Bachmann has claimed the top spot in the latest Zogby poll of 2012 Republican presidential candidates.

Bachman received 24 percent of the vote, leaving behind frontrunner Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor, who got 15 percent of the vote from prospective primary voters.

Herman Cain, another presidential candidate and former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, also received 15 percent in the online poll, while Rep. Ron Paul of Texas garnered 13 percent of the vote.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christy came second in the poll receiving 17 percent of the vote. He was included in the poll despite his stand that he would not run for the 2012 president election.

Things didn’t look too good for former Utah governor John Huntsman, who could collect merely two percent. He announced his candidacy Tuesday.

The online survey of about 1,000 likely Republican primary voters was conducted June 17–21.

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“No matter which way you look at this, Romney’s candidacy has holes within the core Republican base,” pollster John Zogby told Newsmax.

The latest Zogby poll comes a few days after another national poll conducted by Rasmussen showed Minnesota congressman Bachmann trailing Romney in the GOP primary race.

She had garnered 19 percent of the vote against 33 percent drawn by Romney in that poll.

Does the latest poll mark a significant rise in her chances to bag the nomination? Not so easily.

In the Zogby poll, the same voters showed that Romney was still the one likely to make the cut. Compared to seven percent who thought Bachman would win the nomination, 37 percent put their money on Romney.

Bachmann will formally announce her candidacy for president Monday in Waterloo, Iowa, her place of birth, CNN reported, followed by a three-state tour.