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Subscribe to RSSWith about four weeks until the first Republican presidential nominating contest, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has surged to the lead in Iowa and has climbed nearly 20 percentage points in New Hampshire since October, according to new NBC News-Marist polls.
Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has seen his support drop in both states.
In Iowa, which holds its caucuses on Jan. 3, Gingrich gets the support of 26 percent of likely caucus-goers (including those leaning towards a candidate) -- a 21-point jump since October.
Read the NBC News-Marist poll Iowa Annotated Questionnaire
He’s followed by Romney at 18 percent (an eight-point decline), Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 17 percent (a five-point increase), Herman Cain at 9 percent (an 11-point drop) and Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 9 percent (a two-point dip). No other Republican presidential candidate gets more than 5 percent support among likely caucus-goers.
With Cain’s decision to suspend his campaign -- which he announced on Saturday -- a reallocation of his supporters’ second-choice picks puts Gingrich ahead of the Iowa horse race with 28 percent; Paul and Romney are tied at 19 percent; and Perry lands at 10 percent. (The NBC-Marist polls were conducted before Cain suspended his campaign.)
Among all Republican respondents in Iowa, the breakdown is Gingrich with 25 percent, Romney at 18 percent and Paul at 16 percent.
Romney still leads in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Jan. 10, Romney continues to lead, getting the support of 39 percent of likely GOP primary voters. But that’s a six-point decline since October.
Romney is followed in the Granite State by Gingrich at 23 percent (a 19-point gain), Paul at 16 percent (a three-point increase), and former Utah Gov. Huntsman at 9 percent (a four-point jump). No other Republican candidate gets more than 3 percent support.
Read the NBC News-Marist poll New Hampshire Annotated Questionnaire
The decision by Cain -- who is at 2 percent support in New Hampshire -- to suspend his campaign doesn’t change the race there all that much: Romney stays at 39 percent, while Gingrich moves one point to 24 percent.
Among all New Hampshire Republicans, the breakdown is Romney with 40 percent, Gingrich with 21 percent, Paul with 16 percent, and Huntsman at 10 percent.
What’s hurting Romney
What appears to be hurting Romney: perceptions of his ideology and his record as Massachusetts governor.
A combined 71 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa, as well as a combined 71 percent of likely GOP primary voters in New Hampshire, view Romney as either “moderate” or “liberal.”
Among Iowa Republicans identifying with the Tea Party -- who make up about half of all likely caucus-goers -- Gingrich leads Romney, 32 percent to 11 percent. And among Tea Party Republicans in New Hampshire, Gingrich and Romney are tied at 33 percent each.
What’s more, 63 percent of likely Iowa caucus-goers and 60 percent of likely New Hampshire primary voters say it’s unacceptable if a presidential candidate supports an individual health-care mandate (as Romney helped enact in Massachusetts).
By comparison, 47 percent of likely Iowa caucus-goers and 41 percent of likely New Hampshire primary voters say it’s unacceptable if a candidate favors some sort of limited legalization -- or “amnesty” -- for illegal immigrants living in the United States (as Gingrich has suggested he supports).
Measuring Obama
Turning to the general election in Iowa and New Hampshire, President Barack Obama’s approval rating remains underwater in both states.
Forty-three percent of registered voters in Iowa approve of his job performance, which is up one point from October. In New Hampshire, 40 percent of registered voters approve of his job performance, up two points.
Yet -- with one exception -- he leads all GOP challengers in hypothetical match-ups in the Hawkeye State. He’s ahead of Romney by seven points among registered voters (46 percent to 39 percent), Gingrich by 10 points (47 percent to 37 percent) and Perry by 11 points (48 percent to 37 percent).
The one exception: Paul ties him at 42 percent for each.
In New Hampshire, Romney leads Obama by three points (46 percent to 43 percent), although that’s down from Romney’s nine-point advantage in October.
But Obama leads all other Republicans in the state -- Paul (by two points), Gingrich (by 10) and Perry (by 15).
The Iowa NBC-Marist survey was conducted Nov. 27-29 of 2,896 registered voters (margin of error of plus-minus 1.8 percentage points) 916 Republicans (plus-minus 3.2 percentage points) and 425 likely GOP caucus-goers (plus-minus 4.8 percentage points.
The New Hampshire poll was conducted Nov. 28-30 of 2,263 registered voters (plus-minus 2.1 percentage points), 967 total Republicans (plus-minus 3.2 percentage points) and 696 likely GOP primary voters (plus-minus 3.7 percentage points).
Mark Murray covers politics for NBC News.
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This is what we need. A man who's ego can't fit into the White House.
This man has changed positions as much as the man with no soul. But becuase he uses big words, his dumb followers don't notice.
If his would be voters would actually google his past stances on most issues, they would see he is not only a man who has no convictions just like MR but much worse because he has no morales.
The pillsbury sourdough boy single handedly caused most of the chaos and vitriol in the House. If you are old enough to remember before him the parties routinely worked out deals.
He knew that without being evil and maniacal, the good ol boys would never have the House. He caused all sorts of chaos and here we are.
Now we have people willing to look past his ethics violations, evil misdeeds (this man got a bj from ANOTHER MANS WIFE while his kids were about 50 ft away), multiple affairs, lies, changes of stance all the time, and fraudulent business dealings.
What idiot would vote for scum like this. I say stick with Huntsman.
Newt has captured the anger of American conservatives and libertarians better than any other this year. If he can hold this passion and resolve for 4 years, he will go down with Reagan as a great Republican Pres. Cannot wait till he debates Obama's record! Yes, he will be as old as Reagan when elected and may be a one termer if he implements the drastic cuts in the Federal Budget required for us to survive as a great nation; but we like seasoned politicians i.e. Ronald Reagan
I can't wait either. I want to hear what President Obama has not cleaned up. He did clean up a lot of republican mess and now wants jobs and health care for all Americans, not just some. ALL -The republicans just want the rich to have it all. I can't wait. Republican will surly mess that up. Everything Obama puts on the table is something they said they also want at one time. Now they change their mind. wow
President Obama is schooling the GOP and their supporters are squirming. This is great.
Timing isn't everything but it sure helps. Looks like Newt has the luck of good timing being the last in a long succession of "anti-Mitt's." I think he will win Iowa and SC and Florida - and most likely will beat out Flip Flopper Willard Mitt for the GOP nomination.
You do know the sourdough boy has changed stances on almost every issue just like romney, right?
I guess it is my fault for assuming voters would actually be informed before they open their mouths in a public forum and show their imbecility.
There's no surprise here, none whatsoever. The 2008 general election marked the death of the Republican Party of old and the birth of a new, radicalized party designed to please the most extreme, far right groups.
There's no moderate republican today, Reagan in fact would be polling at 2% today. Reagan raised taxes, he provided amnesty for illegals, refused to use force and resorted to diplomacy to dismantle the soviet union, negotiated with terrorists....
We've seen a GOP obstructing positions they have gladly supported in the past, and they've done so by shamelessly offering alternatives that plainly go against the interests of the poor and the middle class. This is about money, the bottom line, the corporate mentality that seems to dominate, along with extreme social positions, the new GOP.
The only problem is that Government is not a corporation. Corporations do not exist for a more perfect union, they exist to make money. It's absurd to begin with to think a business leader will make a good President, they have different job descriptions altogether.
This is irrelevant for the new GOP. Radicalized positions and trickery to dismantle any opposing argument represent the core of the new Republicans. Gingrich represents all this, the corrupt politician with plenty of tricks under his sleeve, a man with no shame left in him, a fraudulent persona who is willing to do whatever it takes for money or power at the cost of the people. This is what the new republicans are about, and Gingrich is their dream come true.
Romney will win - when he does the "Newts" of the party will be out, Mitt will take back the Republican Party from the Tea Party, let em run their own candidates.
Excellant post!!
The man with no soul will win nomination but he should not. Hunstman should be the good ol boy pick.
The man with no soul is has no convictions and he made his money by screwing American workers over and over again.
Obama is clearly beholden to Wall St. but the man with no soul IS Wall St.
You forgot a few things. Reagan also spent money like a drunken sailor on leave and supported gun control.
http://jimcgreevy.com/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart.html
Which path is "Obama The Great Waffleator on".
“Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.”Alexis de Tocqueville
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." Thomas Paine
Glutton ...
"The American party system is like two great bottles. Each bore a lable denoting the kind of liquor it contained. But each was empty."
Lord James Bryce
Stop with the Vitriol, all the evil, nasty things the right wing is filling your heads with... Obama is the the way and the light.... Through him you will find salvation... That is all you need to know... That, and everyone who opposes him is secretly a devil worshipper plotting your destruction....
Choose peace and harminy by voting for Obama or choose Destruction.. it's in your hands...
very well said
He is the 2nd coming of Christ Jesus? Your quotes are Biblical. This is blasphemy! So Obama is your "new" messiah/religion? You got to be kidding......
Imagine you are a longtime Republican Party activist just returning to the
United States after a year-long vacation abroad. At home you turn on your
computer and go to the Drudge Report and see that the Democrats somehow managed
to change the constitution and nominated Fidel Castro for President. First,
you’d rub your eyes to make sure you hadn’t misread. Second, you‘d jump up and
down with glee, as visions of 50 state victory romps dance in your head.
This is how I feel at the prospect of Newt being the GOP nominee in 2012. If
you could take every sin, hypocrisy, and evil put out by conservatives during
the last 35 years, then add a layer of caricature, a pinch of hyperbole and then
finally wrap it in a thick layer of bacon-flavored cookie dough before deep
frying it, you would come up with a Newt Gingrich, even if he didn’t already
exist.
As an embodiment of everything wrong with Conservatism, Newt is stunningly
perfect. That is why I am urging all Democrats and independents in Iowa, New
Hampshire and early primary states to quickly register as Republicans so we can
“help” the GOP nominate a candidate of historic proportion.
Consider Newt’s Hall of Fame credentials:
1. Attacks Washington Lobbyists and proclaims Barney Frank should go to
jail for taking Fannie and Freddie contributions. Meanwhile, Gingrich takes $1.8
million for lobbying on behalf of Fannie/ Freddie.
2. Attacks Washington Pork. Yet Gingrich’s district received more pork
than all but one congressional district according to the Washington Monthly.
3. Attacks liberal morality and defends marriage. And yet it has been
well-documented that Newt has cheated numerous, numerous times on numerous
wives, and this includes having other people’s wives giving him oral sex in cars
as his own children walked by.
4. Attacks corrupt Washington where politicians get rich feeding off the
system. Yet, Newt came to Washington 35 years ago completely broke and now has
an 8-figure net worth. And no, he didn’t invent the Internet either.
5. Attacks corrupt Leadership in DC. Gingrich spent years attacking
Speaker Jim Wright and finally had him removed for taking roughly $1500 in a
questionable book deal. What was Newt’s first action before being sworn in as
the replacement speaker? Striking a $1.5 million questionable book deal for
himself.
6. Attacks Democrats for being weak on defense and anti-military. And, of
course, Newt was a draft dodger.
7. Attacks limousine liberals for being out of touch with the economic
realities facing the middle class. And yet runs up his $500,000 line of credit
at Tiffany’s.
8. Tells whoppers of epic proportion. Newt claimed that Susan Smith killed
her kids because “liberal Democrats had controlled congress for 40 years.” And
of course, who can forget Newt’s explanation for having an affair with a young
aide while impeaching the President of the United States for having an affair
with a young aid? Newt did it because he was working too hard because he loved
his country so much.
9. All of the above might be softened a bit if Gingrich were charming,
charismatic and likeable, a la Ronald Reagan. Fortunately, Newt has the sort of
detestable personality that alienates even those who agree with him. Newt has a
way of implying he is the only smart person in the room and that everyone else
is a complete idiot.
10. Is Newt at least rakishly good-looking or attractive? No, other than
having a helmet head full of hair he is utterly repulsive in every physical way.
Especially his obesity which seems to be growing at a daily 10 pound clip.
Simply put, short of The GOP bringing back to life and nominating serial
murderer/cannibal/sex offender Jeffrey Dahmer, Democrats, liberals and
progressives are never ever going to have a fatter target than Newt Gingrich,
literally or figuratively. We must do everything in our power to help him get
nominated in 2012.
If Gingrich can be destroyed in a landslide in the 2012 general election, it
could set back the conservative movement for a generation. If young people,
independents and the non-aligned can be trained to associate conservative
policies and candidates with the venal, hypocritical and corrupt Newt Gingrich,
Progressive candidates will start out with an edge in every campaign.
2012 is unlikely to see a serious Democratic opponent to Barack Obama, so
there is no need for Democrats to worry about losing a voice or abandoning their
party during a primary. Democrats and independents can register Republican, vote
in the GOP primaries, and then switch back immediately after the primary in
their state.
I beg the progressive community from the bottom of my heart: we cannot let
this opportunity slip though our fingers! It could be 1000 years before our
ideological enemies nominate someone who is so obviously and egregiously
corrupt, hypocritical and despicable. If you want to advance the cause of
progressive politics in America there is nothing you could do that would be more
helpful or useful than voting for Newt Gingrich in the primaries.
And let’s face it, if we can’t beat Newt Gingrich, we really can’t beat
anyone. And if Newt were to win, then we really should move to Canada.
From
The Daily National www.dailynational.com
Maybe if Newt wins all the occupy people would move to Canada!!!!
WOW, what an essay. This is longer than the news article itself. Let me sum this up, vote every Republican out of office.
Obama, Newt--you people are dumber than a bag of jobless hammers. This country is toast.
Double down on crazy.
Two weeks to retirement. I'm changing my voter registration to Democrat and will campaign for Obama and any Democrat. I will start social security in January and want to get as much other entitlements as I possibly can. Never believed it years ago when my boss told me anyone who worked in government would be a fool to vote for anyone that wasn't a democrat. I am now a believer and already feel more affluent even if the checks haven't yet hit the mail box. More and bigger government involvement, regulation and entitlements are good for the country.
I will get my first check in March. I have also changed my voters card.
Great, A Republican Sociopath from the the Republican Graveyard of the 1998 House of Representatives with 84 Ethics charges and Multiple episodes of Marital Infidelity leads the Republican Party..
The one Republican with the Sole and Single Minded objective of Dismantling Social Security and Medicare insurance!
Obama is a mental midget compared to Romney or Gingrich, at least they both support America and not some type of European socialism.
Your sick and twisted views thankfully arent being heard by the vast majority of Americans, who still like Obama over any of the Republican field.
Cant you haters find any new material besides your inept "Socialism" schtick?
If you're talking about the art of fraud, sure, Obama has a lot to learn from Gingrich and Romney. Gingrich is a master, a man who was kicked out of Congress for fraud and corruption leading the GOP polls. Willard, a corporate puppet with absolutely zero core or convictions, the runner up.
Yeah, Obama should learn how to lie at the same level Newt and Willard do, clearly being honest is not a good course of action, specially with the GOP, a radicalized party of talking points and disguised corruption.
Support America? You mean China? Sending jobs to China, allowing China to manipulate currency, filling American stores with chinese products.
So, when you stand for an American worker, is that supporting Europe? When you stand for corporations who send the jobs to China and destroy American jobs and communities, is that supporting America?
Is the north pole down by Argentina in this new Republican world?
Oh yeah....this, coming from the guy who posted that "trees absorb live giving oxygen and spew out CO2".
You clearly never "grad-giated" the 5th grade, because every 6th grader who isnt brain damaged knows that it's the opposite that's true.
Having read that, it's ridiculously hard to take you seriously ever again.
How anyone not a die hard Republican could even consider voting for Gingrich is beyond me. The Republican voters are clearly getting desperate to find ABR (Anybody But Romney). If Newt runs against Obama, it's gonna be a landslide for Obama.
Yeah, just like the 2010 landslide the occupiers have forgotten about.
You guys have such short term memories.
It's more like 1964 when the Republicans ran Goldwater.
The difference between Willard and Newt? Willard has not been in DC long enough to learn to lie shamelessly, under pressure, to defend his flip flops. Willard however is used to being the boss, he's not alright with being challenged, we've seen his arrogant attitude of contempt and disdain towards all others in the room during the debates and the latest Fox News interview.
Willard is a liar and a fraud, like Gingrich, but Willard is not yet trained in the art of public deception at the same level Newt is. Willard however could teach Newt a few things, like how to feel contempt for others in the room and to ignore your own record of fraud, Newt talks about it, Willard simply ignores it.
Two of a kind, the fraudulent kind.
Jimmy Carter was ahead of Reagan 48-36 (or some order of that magnitude) two weeks before the general election. We all know the outcome of that, Carter won 1 state. With 11 months to go before the Nov 12 elections, it is totally ridiculous to have a poll pitting obama against any republican. If you add the margin together of all the repulicans versus obama, obama will loose by about 92-8. The higher ups in the dem party see this and are trying their best to talk him into retiring.
Forcing kids to work as janitors is not radical? Allowing people do die if they're poor is not radical? Allowing corporations to dismantle entire towns and destroy the American dream is not radical? A man indicted by the same body he controlled with dozens of counts of corruption and fraud now leading the polls is not radical?
Again, does the sun come up at night in GOP land?
Open, you need to do little research. He was found not guilty of any of the dem trumped up charges against him. Engage brain before putting mouth in gear.
richiemc,
Yes, and it's worth remembering how Reagan won! Dirty, stinking politics like American had never seen before. If Bill Casey had lived to testify, there might have been a chance at exposing Reagan for the manipulative liar he was.
Why is less government, less taxes, and less regulations "Radical" as opposed to failing socialialist European countries that are just the opposite of these?
Something is wrong with the word "Radical" being used here.
something is wrong with you being stuck on one issue. Every comment you have is the same. What is wrong with you?
Denice, if you like the euro way of government, you should move there. Our constitution tried to prevent a failed government like those in euro, but obama is trying to do away with the constitution and put us into seritude to the government just like europe.
The only candidate in the current right wing field that could beat Obama is Romney. Fortunately the right wing have looked at him and rejected him...4 more years ;)
The Republicans have a winner, they just don't know it yet. There was a time in this country when class and intelligence were valued in a presidential candidate. The present field of Republicans blew that away with one exception - John Huntsman. He doesn't pass the Teaparty litmus test. I guess you have to club a fish over the head, cheat on you wife a few times and be dumb and dumber to get the nomination now. You have your chance, Republicans. With Huntsman, you could at least level the playing field with Obama. If not, the rest of the Republican candidates are mental pygmies and Obama is, and remains, the mental giant.
How come no one can see beyond Gingrich's nice smile and know what a evil man he really is?
Answer: Koolaid
Fosz,
Most Americans know Newt is an evil mofo, but you have to understand, the core of voters in the GOP, I call them the 23%ers (the ones that supported Bush to the sticky end when he had a 23% approval rating), are evil people as well. They profess to be morally superior Christian elite, who believe that God wants them to dominate all of mankind. I call them Uber-Right-Wing Evangelical Pseudo-Christian Nut-Jobs. Most people simplify that by calling them "fundamentalists" but the problem with that is that they're too wrapped up in the John Nelson Darby docterine of hate, intolerance and greed to follow the fundamental teachings of Chist; Love for all, tolerance (remember, he hung out with theives, murderers and prostitutes) and a general attitude of compassion.
Gingrich! Gingrich? To steal a line from John McEnroe, "you cannot be serious".
our country needs a leader not one of these can lead his way out of a paperbag, ditto for our current president getting yourself elected does not a leader make. name one democrat or republican that you would be willing to trust your life with--I can't. These days the MSM has no idea what it takes to be a leader.
As a democrat, Newt would be the ideal GOP candidate. He would certianly be the easiest to defeat, hell, he'd lose by an even bigger margin than McCain did. Newt and McCain are cut from the same cloth, pasty, old, white men that are married to the women they cheated on their previous wives with.
Obama will put Newt away quickly by asking him 3 simple questions:
1. Does the name William Jefferson Clinton ring a bell?
2. For what reason were you going after him?
3. What was YOUR marital situation at the time you were attacking William Jefferson Clinton?
Furthermore, any GOP candidate would have to win all 5 of the following states to get to 270 electoral votes; VA, PA, OH, NC & FL
Obama won ALL 5 of those states in 2008, and to get to 270 in 2012, he'll only need ONE of the five. With Joe Biden, PA is likely his and OH voters have been swinging left as of late with votes to shoot down attempts to stifle labour unions, and the republicans have seriously pissed voters off with those attempts.
Obama is essentially gauranteed a second term, especially if the slimy Newt is the candidate.
I've been a Newt fan for years. He has my vote if it comes to that point.
I agree with you Mark, Obama is the most radial president of my lifetime worse than Carter.
wow...i totally get that gay vibe from newt...and archie you have to realize that alot of no morals girly men "not gay...just whipped" like mark will vote for newt!!! there are alot of "pudding pops" out there...I mean after what Newt did to Clinton...what man in the world would vote for him
Newt should take the repub nomination and then the W.H. with a majority in the house and the Senate.
Then we might get the country moving again.
A bunch of folks won't like the answers to our contry's woes and there will be some more hard times for some but it will only be for a short period overall.
Newt has done well in all the debates and hasn't fallen for a commentator's trick questions yet. He sees it as a trick question before the commentator finishes asking it and makes the commentator look foolish.
He speaks simply so all understand what he is saying and the liberal media goes nuts trying to spin the way they want.
Cain will probably endorse Newt and thats another plus. Too many anti-Romney repubs so he is out, he just has too much ego to quit.
All I want to know is who Newt may be choosing for his V.P. and there are some good ones to choose from that will make his defeat of Odumbo a landslide.
Bill Paxon or Tom DeLay.will be his VP Nomination
You're delusional, a GOP victory is nearly impossible. As a Democrat, I hope Newt is the candidate, he's a McCain clone (only fatter). Both are pasty, old, white men that are married to the women they cheated on their previous wives with. Both are understood by most Americans to have been major role-players in the economic crisis we face today (all the polls indicate Americans know the republicans are to blame.)
So, hey, I commend you on keeping your hope alive, but I'm doing you a favor by preparing you for the inevitable loss you will suffer in November 2012.
sure ...in your dreams...not ONE republican I know is behind Newt.....especially the old lady Regan ones like my mom who HATE NEWT!!! good luck!!!!
A Republican controlled America; America is already controlled by the Republicans with their fillibusters. Depression Days are coming soon, brought to you by the same old Republican policy of the 1930's. If you vote Republican, that doesn't guarantee you the front of the welfare lines. If you want to live like a Republican, you have to vote Democrat.
two months ago the republican loved Cain and hated Newt. Now Cain is gone and they love Newt. A confused bunch of people.
I thought that we would like anyone that wasn't the Washington elite. Guess I was wrong.
@Denise
Flip flopping is contagious!