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Mitt Romney holds an eight-point lead over his Republican rivals for the White House in a survey of California voters released Monday by the Field Research Corp. Romney garnered 25 percent support among registered Republican voters in the state, according to the Field Poll, and 56 percent of Republicans there said they have a favorable view of the former Massachusetts governor.

Romney officially announced his candidacy earlier this month and has maintained a lead in most national GOP primary polls. He is expected to arrive in California on Tuesday for a three-day fundraising tour, and will make stops in Sacramento, Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire region and the Bay Area, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who hasn't said whether he will make a second run for president in 2012, came in second with 17 percent support. Fifty-nine percent of California Republicans view Giuliani favorably, the highest rating for any of the GOP candidates. If Giuliani decides not to run, Romney could open up a double-digit lead: 30 percent of California Republicans said they would support Romney if Giuliani were not on the ballot.

Sarah Palin came in third among the dozen Republicans on the survey's ballot with 10 percent support. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who won the Republican Leadership Conference's straw poll over the weekend, received 7 percent. Newt Gingrich tied with Herman Cain, each receiving 6 percent support. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has been hinting at a run in recent weeks, had 5 percent. Trailing him are Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (4 percent), former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (3 percent) and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (2 percent). Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who is expected to officially announce his candidacy Tuesday, received 1 percent.

But whoever emerges as the GOP nominee will face a difficult challenge in this traditionally blue state in the general election. Fifty-four percent of registered California voters approve of President Obama's job performance (37 percent disapprove). Further, nearly half (49 percent) of voters there support his re-election bid. The survey shows the president has the highest re-election chances in the Bay Area, where 64 percent of voters there say they would vote for him in 2012. The president also received high support from Latinos (57 percent), African Americans (91 percent) and Asian Americans (46 percent) statewide.

The Field Poll of 950 registered voters, including 322 registered Republicans, was conducted June 3-13. The full sample of registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent while the Republican sample has a margin of error of plus/minus 5.7 percent.