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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may well be the emerging front-runner heading into Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, according to a new poll of Hawkeye State Republicans likely to participate in the contest.
Romney enjoys a slight advantage over Texas Rep. Ron Paul, according to a CNN/TIME poll released Wednesday; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who's been pummeled by ads in the state, has fallen to fourth -- behind former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
Romney also enjoys a commanding lead over other Republican candidates in New Hampshire.
Twenty-five percent of likely caucus-goers said they would choose Romney. Paul was the choice of 22 percent, while 16 percent named Santorum, and 14 percent named Gingrich. Eleven percent said they would support Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and nine percent back Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, the winner of August's straw poll.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who's not competing in the state, ranks as the choice of one percent of Iowa Republicans.
The polls reflect shifting political terrain in Iowa since the release of polls earlier this month, which showed Gingrich ahead of his GOP challengers in Iowa. An NBC News-Marist poll released Dec. 4 found Gingrich leading as the preference of 21 percent of likely caucus-goers, followed by Romney at 18 percent and Paul at 17 percent. The Des Moines Register's Iowa poll showed similar results.
(A new NBC News-Marist poll of the Iowa caucuses will be released later this week.)
In the intervening weeks, the different candidates -- along with super PACs acting on their behalf -- have spent millions on ads in the state. Arguably the most significant expenditures have been made by Restore our Future, a pro-Romney super PAC that has run ads castigating Gingrich, and the Paul campaign, which has also spent to promote the libertarian-minded candidate, and in opposition to Romney and Gingrich.
Santorum has also been the beneficiary of increased social conservative suppoprt, most notably from Bob Vander Plaats, the head of The Family Leader, who endorsed the former senator independent of his group.
The new figures also underscore the fluidity of the GOP field ahead of the Jan. 3 caucus. Gingrich has slid over the past month just as Herman Cain and Bachmann -- who had each led in Iowa at one point -- had faded. The poll points to the possibility of even more shifting in the final days of the Iowa campaign: 54 percent of likely caucus-goers said they will definitely support the candidate they named, but 43 percent said they might change their mind.
Once Iowa's contest is decided, the candidates will head to New Hampshire, the host of the nation's first primary and the cycle's second nominating contest.
Forty-four percent of likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire said they would back Romney. Paul places second, at 17 percent, followed by Gingrich at 16 percent, Huntsman at nine percent, Santorum at four percent, Bachmann at three percent and Perry at two percent.
Fifty-one percent of New Hampshire primary voters said they've made up their mind, while 45 percent said they may change their mind -- offering hope to the winner of Iowa's caucuses to use a win there as a springboard heading into the Granite State.
The polls, conducted Dec. 21-24 and Dec. 26-27 by ORC, have a 4.5 percent margin of error for the Iowa results, and a four percent margin of error for the New Hampshire results.
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I kinda liked Hermie myself,-------, at least he liked the sweeties.
Most dem friends that I have and independents can see themselves voting for Romney....
Obama will have his hands full with Mitt...sure a couple of flips....but can you honestly say that obama does not have any flips...
does gitmo ring a bell...tax cuts for the rich, so i need to continue on...
Yep!! B. Hussein Obama extended the Bush era tax cuts for another two years!! ha!!
Oh WOW!
Never going to be any unity, I fear. Political correctness has gone too far. Such hate and name calling.
What will the President run on , That he got Bin Laden , Obama is a real educated man , and attorney , taught at Harvard as well . But what is his message going to be , I think every one , on both sides is ready for hope and change
we need a historian in the White House, so history doesn't repeat itself. I am tired of these people that don't read history or know anything about our history as Americans. Newt's the man that will beat Obama, just with his knowledge of history alone. If you have ever been to one of his history filled speeches it will leave you with a warm feeling of that guy really know his stuff and we need to get back to basics.
I know a 26 yo kid that borrowed money and the car from his 1 percent parents to drive to an occupy protest. This is a great example of why we need a more tenured person in the white house, so kids can separate fact from fiction. I tried to tell this kid about Steve Jobs being a 1 percenter and the fact was he created 100 times more wealth for people then himself personally. Capitalism is great and what he was doing was not only biting the hand that feeds him, but also acting like a communist. I pointed out the fact it took me until I was in my fifties to make the 1 percent crowd with just 4 years of junior college. This kid was totally brainwashed by the media and Obama's class warfare, it made me sick.
Obama was elected with a sizeable majority and a gigantic electoral college victory. Believing in bi partisanship his first order of business was healthcare which he ran on. Knowing that elections have consequences(isnt that the Republican phrase whenever they win an election) he opted for a Republican health plan. This plan was a Heritage Foundation(Republican think tank) plan, approved by Newt, supported by Bob Dole during his run in 1996 and put in place by Mitt Willard Romney. Now what reception did Obama receive- DeMint(teapug leader) tweeted "we wil break him" when Obama announced and McConnell had already had his meeting with the other Republican Senators and it was agreed to "protect the Republican brand" to unify and be non supportive.
These are the facts. You can google them, look at Krugmans best seller in 2007 which recommended this action to avoid a partisan divide, or better yet trust me. The RepubliCONS have decided if they deny Obama any victories it is better for them. The hell with the country. Its all about them and their followers and lets face it a depression can be a great opportunity if you have the money to buy all the distressed and devalued assets available.
Newt Gingrich Is ‘A Stupid Man’s Idea Of What A Smart Person Sounds Like’
and a penchant for rewriting history does not make one a historian.
willards bain credentials will be his undoing.
What he did was buy companies, kill the work force to temporarily raise earnings then sell for a profit. In today's economic climate he will be TOAST
Romney...Gingrich...Paul...it doesn't matter. We NEED four more years of Barack Obama. Why, look at all the man has done since January 2009: He's turned around the economy, erased the national debt, put millions back to work with his successful stimulus package, gotten other nations like Iran to respect us again and (thanks to Michelle) all our kids are fit and trim. All this without once blaming George W. Bush for what he inherited because Barack IS the Great Uniter!!!
Barack Obama is the greatest president in the history of this or any other country.
Oh, wait...I was talking about Kim Jong-Il. Sorry, got my Kool-Aid packets mixed up.
Aha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!! LMAO!!!
What will Obama run on someone asked? ---- His record of achievements of course, something no conservative can run on
His change brought health care insurance into the homes of American Families... Brought policies that put an end to Federal Bailouts & policies with long term spending reductions... He gave everyone Tax Cuts,,, Bank Reform,,, Killed OBL, Gadahfi a terrorist dictator... got us out of Iraq,,, continues to pursue nuclear threat reduction & global nuclear disarmament,,, Restored our destroyed foreign policies & nations honor & he works for THE PEOPLE & NOT THE RICH
THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT IS WORKING
What are conservatives going to run on?
How they wallow & bathe in the pain & suffering of the American Family their policies & agenda cause? More Middle East Wars? --- Let them run on it! -- Hell Yes,, Let them run on it!
yea right Obama killed GADAHFI, last time i checked it was the Nato. No other country cares about him, because nobody takes him seriously. Healthcare i have to pay $ 300 for medical insurance. i can show you my bill.
The usual: Fear, Hatred and Intolerance.
Obama already has taken Fear, Hatred and Intolerance for his campaign strategy. and lies of course.
Well can't argue with that ,, The Health Care Reform is a big hit , very popular as well . No more bailouts ,, good , Killed Bin and Gadahfi , good , Got us out of Iraq , very very good , and of course the always popular nuclear threat reduction . Then I guess he will win , just the Health care reform should do it
AND...regardless of what FAUX News tells everyone...the economy IS getting better, NO help from the TEA BAG house of reps, twist the facts all you want, but it is TRUE!
I'll vote for anyone that wants to quit giving our money to Jews or any other country
yep i agree with you.
Anti-Semitic? ,,, Oh my! Wasn't Jesus Jewish?
He got in trouble with the Jews when he threw the moneychangers out of the Temple.
I don't think the Jews liked him very much,even if he was a Jew.
I know conservatives don't like Jesus much --- It shows with their policies
What's amazing is everyone is ignoring the huge jump in Mr. Buttfluids' numbers. Santorum has been down near Jon Huntsman in every poll in every state. He might be the next flavor of the weak for the gop who are desperate for anyone to act like a respectable humanoid. so far only rom-knee is the only one who acts respectable, but the automaton, or do you prefer autoMITTon, doesn't qualify as human.
But that's the us corporate-owned media, all about hype, ignore the real news or anything substantive.
Obama is a real turkey,but Romney would lose to him just like the great ticket of McCain/Palin.
I don't want more Obama,but I won't vote for Mitt or Newt just to get rid of him.Give me a choice for a different approach to our problems,not the same old horse$hit.
It's Ron Paul or you can keep the vacation guy.
Ron Paul?
No.
Bad for America.
"The fleabaggers are flocking to the Newt, sean hannity just endorsed him" ?????
Sorry, republicans/teabaggers.
None of your "leaders" have a chance at the presidency.
President Obama has another term to serve.
Try again in 2016.
Or maybe 2020.
Even in 2020 there won't be enough paint to repaint the GOP as being worthy of the job,, They just don't get it
Conservatives seem to live in a different dimension or an alternate universe, a place that everything is exactly as they say it is --- Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone"
Yeah, right, conservatives live on a different universe because they actually want to reduce the deficit and cut corrupt government spending. What a crazy idea.
I know it is early...but hurry and get the primary over with the GOP...so that "We the People" can figure out whether or not the GOP can lead this country...
I have to admit one thing. I would take a college class from Newt. Definately!
Like two peas in a pod.
Arguing on the internet is like running in the Special Olympics.... You might win but you're still a retard!
The right can't make up its mind which crazy fool they want so every 15 minutes they switch - but in the end it will be Mittens. He's got a great deal of baggage so when he starts attacking "ObamaCare" I can't wait for the DNC to run the ads where they prove it's really RomneyCare! Too funny!
Any of the GOP candidates with the possible exceptions of Perry and Bachmann can beat Obama. Obama is childish, clearly does not understand economic issues and has zero leadership ability. Romney will probably get the nomination and will absolutely cream Obama in the general election.
Obama is the only one with a proven record of leadership to run on & the only Ronald Reagan in the bunch
His change brought health care insurance into the homes of American Families... Brought policies that put an end to Federal Bailouts & long term spending reductions... He gave everyone Tax Cuts,,, Bank Reform,,, Killed OBL, Gadahfi a terrorist dictator... continues to pursue nuclear threat reduction & global nuclear disarmament,,, Restored our destroyed foreign policies & nations honor & he works for THE PEOPLE & NOT THE RICH
THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT IS WORKING
Ron Paul has been the Rip Van Winkle of Big Government,,, He's been asleep for 35 years & only woke up when the thunder of election time struck
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
*wipes tears away*
Thanks! I needed that humor today.
Obama's idea of leadership is to appoint a committee to tackle a problem and then blame the committee. And we go further and further into debt.......
yes he will take some cream with his peach pie
??
Newt is behind Scrotorum? Too funny.
Newt is behind anyone who he thinks will defeat Romney --- That's not a good endorsement from someone who conservatives kicked out of Congress in disgrace
Newt is a catholic .... he has obligations man! He should be supporting Runner's World Magazine!
So far I think Newt has tried to be anything but a Mormon... He's not very convincing
Newt...Good Catholic!
awww newt get mad his filling were hurt eating to much fudge at the factory
all of the mark of the beast party wants the states to control health care for all..oh OK like plan parenthood
stop the mark of the beast party..before its to late.
Yeah,,, That's what the Pope calls today's conservatives.. Devil Worshipers
Who's got the divine authority to argue with the Pope?
Nobody does, just God
but remember they are gods children only
I thought God only had one kid. Does he have more that I haven't heard of?
let the states control us not the government?????????idiots
And the 1st thing they do is to use federal government to sue the state of Virginia.... Our nation's largest colony & very first state!
yes hahahaha..but but they are not government
Elvis, I have news..... States have governments and they control things as much or even more that the Federal Govt. does.
Jim, that Virginia was the first state will be news to Delaware who has been going around claiming to be the first state for many decades. Yes, Virginia was the biggest of the original 13 states.
yes its a joke..read again
the tea party is no party.they say..oh that's right tea trash the whole house is full of dumb azzzezz