WASHINGTON —  Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s strong presidential polling continues — she’s virtually tied for second among New Hampshire Republican primary voters, according to a new poll from the state.

In a poll of 727 likely Republican primary voters, conducted after her breakout performance in Monday night’s debate, 10 percent say they lean towards voting for Bachmann. Mitt Romney remains the heavy favorite, with 42 percent support, while former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty received only 5 percent.

Of those who watched Monday night’s debate, at which Bachmann announced her run for president, 10 percent said her performance was strongest; 42 percent favored Romney (the strongest showing overall) and only 2 percent favored Pawlenty.

A national poll released earlier this week shows 19 percent of likely Republican primary voters nationally supporting Bachmann’s bid. Polls continue to show Romney as the frontrunner, and by a large margin.

This new New Hampshire poll suggests, early on at least, that Bachmann’s socially conservative philosophy might not be a dramatic impediment for her there.

Bachmann’s pro-life and traditional marriage message was always expected to play well with religious conservatives in Iowa, but New Hampshire is significantly more liberal, even among its Republicans. February’s Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire shows less than half of the state’s Republicans support a repeal of the state’s gay marriage law, and more than half think abortion should be legal in some form or another.

Despite that, Bachmann has the second-highest favorable (55 percent) and second-lowest unfavorable (28 percent) numbers in the state. In both categories, she trails only Mitt Romney.

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.