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A Suffolk University/7 NEWS (WHDH TV) Poll shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney surging among likely Republican voters in New Hampshire, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry a distant fourth.

Romney has opened up a 27-point lead over his nearest rival in New Hampshire.

Garnering 41%, Romney gained 5 points since June, followed by Ron Paul (14 percent), and Jon Huntsman (10 percent).

The poll shows that Huntsman and Paul gained 6 percent each since the last poll.

The single-digit tier consisted of Perry (8 percent), Sarah Palin (6 percent), Michele Bachmann (5 percent), and Newt Gingrich (4 percent), while Rick Santorum and Buddy Roemer each received 1 percent.

Eleven percent of likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters were undecided.

“Mitt Romney is saying ‘get out of my back yard’ and making New Hampshire his strong firewall despite showing some weakness in the other states’ early primaries,” said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center. “The anti-Romney candidate at this point could be either Ron Paul, who has polled consistently over the past year, or Jon Huntsman, whose numbers are really growing in the Granite State.”